India is gearing up for a significant leap in space exploration with the Shukrayaan mission, its inaugural Venus Orbiter Mission set for launch in 2028. Confirmed by Nilesh Desai, Director of ISRO’s Space Applications Centre, the government approved this ambitious project, initially proposed in 2012. Shukrayaan-1 is designed to study Venus, Earth’s “twin,” exploring the planet’s surface, atmosphere, and geological structure, using advanced instruments like synthetic aperture radar and infrared imaging devices.
One of the mission’s main objectives is to examine Venus’s dense carbon dioxide and sulphuric acid cloud cover, and to uncover volcanic formations. Although NASA doubts the presence of life on Venus, it speculates about possible microscopic organisms in its upper atmosphere. The global science community highly anticipates the mission, as it will provide comprehensive data that previous missions, limited in scope, could not. The mission will be processed via the Indian Space Science Data Center, benefiting researchers worldwide.
Launching in March 2028 with an estimated cost of Rs 1,236 crore, ISRO plans to use the LVM-3 launch vehicle to position the spacecraft into an Elliptical Parking Orbit. By studying Venus, scientists aim to gain insights into planetary climates and atmospheres, shedding light on Earth’s own evolution and climate dynamics. Successful exploration would position India among a select group of nations with expertise in planetary science.
Venus’s extreme conditions, with surface temperatures around 475°C and a corrosive atmosphere, present significant engineering challenges. Previous landers have only survived a few hours, necessitating cutting-edge technology and materials capable of withstanding these harsh environments.
In other developments, India plans to establish its own space station by 2035 and is eyeing the Chandrayaan 4 Moon mission in collaboration with Japan, aiming for a 2030 launch. These initiatives underline India’s growing prowess in space exploration.
Original Story https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/isro-shukrayaan-venus-orbiter-mission-launch-objectives-unique-future-plans-13839693.html
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