According to reports, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath stressed that although India’s first manned space mission Gaganyaan is ready to be launched by the end of this year, it still needs to be treated with caution. During the press conference, Somanath mentioned issues facing NASA’s Boeing Starliner and warned of potential risks. The Starliner carrying astronauts was launched on June 5 and was originally scheduled to return on September 7, but due to technical challenges, the astronauts were trapped. NASA astronauts Sunitha Williams and Butch Wilmore will return aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in February 2024.
Explore new frontiers: Venus Mission
Somanath also highlighted ISRO’s ambitious Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) as a key project approved by the Union Cabinet, Business Standard reported. The budget is Rs. The mission is expected to cost Rs 1,236 crore and will be launched in March 2028.
The Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) currently under development will take seven years to complete, so the Venus mission will instead use the Mark-3 launch vehicle (LVM3).
Challenges of Venus Exploration
Although Venus is Earth’s closest planetary neighbor, it faces more challenges than Mars due to its extreme atmospheric conditions. S Somanath told the publication that the pressure in Venus’ atmosphere is 100 times greater than that of Earth’s, making it a more complex target despite being closer. Russia, China and Japan are also planning missions to Venus by 2030, making India’s mission an important milestone in the race to explore space.
Growing interest in space startups
The ISRO chairman also expressed excitement over the growing interest in India’s space sector, especially the contribution of startups. Somanath acknowledged the impressive developments in satellite technology made by private companies and pointed to significant shifts in the space industry landscape.
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