India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has announced a thrilling new plan: they will send a satellite to Venus in early 2028! This mission is part of a larger and ambitious program that will cost about $147.1 million. ISRO wants to explore our solar system, which includes not just Venus, but also the Moon and Mars.
What’s the Plan?
The Indian government has recently approved two big missions. The first one is the Venus probe, and the second one is Chandrayaan-4, a mission that aims to collect samples from the Moon and bring them back to Earth.
India has a rich history in space exploration. They have launched three missions to the Moon already, known as the Chandrayaan series. These missions took place in 2008, 2019, and 2023, with the most recent mission making history by landing on the Moon’s south pole—something no other country has done before!
In addition to the Moon missions, India has also launched a mission to Mars in 2014, showing that they are serious about exploring space.
Why Study Venus?
ISRO explained that their goal in exploring planets is to understand how different they are from each other. They want to compare planets and study how they interact with the Sun. The Venus mission is special because it will give scientists new data about the planet’s atmosphere, climate, and even volcanic activity. Despite many missions to Venus in the past, there are still many things we don’t know about it.
The mission will help answer questions about Venus’s thick clouds and its mysterious features. Scientists believe that this data will be useful for future missions to the planet.
What Will the Mission Do?
The satellite will orbit Venus and gather information about the planet for five years. It will look at the atmosphere, climate, and any volcanic or seismic activity. The data collected could help scientists understand why Venus is so different from Earth, despite both being rocky planets.
A Heavy-Lift Launch
To launch this ambitious mission, ISRO will use its new heavy-lift launch vehicle, known as the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM-3). This powerful rocket will carry 19 payloads, which include scientific instruments from both India and other countries.
A Bright Future for Space Exploration
ISRO also mentioned that this mission is expected to create many job opportunities and help develop new skills in India. The Indian government is investing in its space program, and plans are underway for the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which is set to launch in 2029. This mission will be even more advanced, collecting samples from the Moon and safely returning them to Earth.
In a recent announcement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also revealed plans for India’s first space station, called the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), along with a crewed mission to the Moon planned for 2040. This shows India’s commitment to advancing its space exploration efforts.
India’s plans to explore Venus and return to the Moon are thrilling! As the country pushes forward with its space missions, it opens up new possibilities for scientific discovery and technological advancement. Who knows what secrets Venus might reveal? The future of India’s space exploration looks brighter than ever!
