After the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 success, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to embark on another mission. ISRO has turned its focus towards Venus, our neighboring planet in the solar system.
The Chairman of ISRO, S Somanath, recently shared the exciting news about the steady progress of the Venus mission, informally referred to as the “Shukrayaan-1” mission.
Why is ISRO eyeing a mission to Venus now?
Venus is an intriguing celestial body with unique characteristics. Its atmosphere is incredibly thick, about 100 times denser than Earth’s, and it is laden with acidic compounds. Interestingly, if certain dramatic changes were to occur, Earth could potentially transform into a planet resembling Venus in the distant future. Therefore, studying Venus is crucial for gaining insights into the history and potential future of our own planet.
What is the aim of Shukrayaan-1 mission?
The primary objective of the Shukrayaan-1 mission is to conduct comprehensive exploration of Venus. Often dubbed “Earth’s twin” due to its similar size, Venus presents a stark contrast in terms of conditions. Shukrayaan-1 aims to investigate both the surface and atmosphere of Venus, delving into its geological features.
Could there be life on Venus?
The question of whether there could be life on Venus has intrigued scientists. While NASA harbors doubts about the presence of life on Venus, some scientists have not ruled out the possibility of tiny microbes existing in the upper regions of Venus’s atmosphere, where the atmospheric pressure resembles that of Earth’s surface.
As for what’s next for Shukrayaan-1, the mission continues to make steady progress, although ISRO has not yet disclosed details such as the launch date and other critical information.
It may be noted that this isn’t the first time we’ve ventured to Venus. Past missions, including the European Space Agency’s Venus Express, Japan’s Akatsuki Venus Climate Orbiter, and NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, have explored Venus and provided valuable insights, even capturing stunning images of its surface.