Venus mission: ISRO Sets Sights on Venus; Shukrayaan Mission Takes Shape

NEW DELHI: India's renowned space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is gearing up for an exciting new mission beyond Earth's borders. Almost a month after the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon, ISRO has announced plans for a groundbreaking mission to Venus, one of the most enigmatic and challenging planets in our solar system.

ISRO's Chief, S Somnath, confirmed the initiation of India's Venus mission, which has been unofficially dubbed "Shukrayaan" - a name derived from the Sanskrit words "Shukra" (Venus) and "yana" (craft or vehicle). This mission has been in the works for some time, with the development of crucial payloads already completed, marking a significant milestone in India's space exploration endeavors. The exciting news was revealed by Somnath while addressing the Indian National Science Academy in Delhi.

The primary objective of the Shukrayaan mission is to explore and study Venus's enigmatic surface and atmosphere, known for its extreme conditions. Venus boasts a thick and corrosive atmosphere, with atmospheric pressure approximately 100 times that of Earth, posing numerous challenges for exploration.

Emphasizing the importance of unraveling Venus's mysteries, ISRO Chief S Somnath stated, "Venus is a very interesting planet. It also has an atmosphere. Its atmosphere is so thick. You cannot penetrate the surface. You don't know if its surface is hard or not." This mission aims to provide valuable insights into the Venusian environment, shedding light on its unique characteristics and helping scientists understand the planet's evolution.

Furthermore, the exploration of Venus holds broader implications for Earth's future. Somnath remarked, "Earth could be one day Venus. I don't know. Maybe 10,000 years later we (Earth) change our characteristics. Earth was never like this. It was not a habitable place long, long back." By studying Venus, scientists hope to gain critical insights into the processes that have shaped planetary evolution and assess potential future scenarios for Earth.

The Venus Orbiter Mission, in line with international efforts, will follow in the footsteps of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), both planning missions to Venus in the 2030s. These missions are set to gather crucial data during atmospheric descents and conduct orbital observations, contributing to our growing understanding of the neighboring planet.

ISRO's ambitious venture to Venus underscores India's growing prominence in the field of space exploration. With this mission, India joins the elite group of nations actively engaged in interplanetary exploration, reaffirming its commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and expanding our understanding of the solar system.

Notably, India has previously achieved success with its interplanetary missions, exemplified by the Mangalyaan mission to Mars. Mangalyaan successfully orbited the Red Planet, delivering invaluable images and scientific data. Now, with the Shukrayaan mission on the horizon, India is poised to make significant contributions to the study of our celestial neighbors, further cementing its position in the global space exploration community.

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