Syllabus Section:  Science and tech

WHY IN NEWS?

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has short-listed 20 space-based experiment proposals, including from France, for its proposed Venus orbiter mission ‘Shukrayaan’ to study the planet for more than four years.

ABOUT MISSION

Aim: Scientific objectives of ISRO’s Venus mission are investigation of the surface processes and shallow subsurface stratigraphy; and solar wind interaction with Venusian Ionosphere, and studying the structure, composition and dynamics of the atmosphere.

 

• Earlier ISRO was planning June, 2023 for the country’s first mission to Venus. “But delays arising from the pandemic situation”,

• Future launch opportunity is either in 2024 or 2026, because optimal launch window (when Venus is closest to the Earth) comes about every 19 months.

• ISRO has received 20 payload (scientific instruments) proposals, including collaborative contributions from Russia, France, Sweden and Germany, are currently under review.

• The one already selectedis France’s VIRAL instrument (Venus Infrared Atmospheric Gas Linker) co-developed with the Russian space agency Roscosmos, and the LATMOS atmospheres, environments and space observations laboratory attached to the French national scientific research centre CNRS.

• Swedish Institute of Space Physics is also engaged with India’s mission to Venus.

FACTSTO KNOW:

• Exploration of Venus began in the early 1960s. Venus has been explored by flyby, orbiter, a few lander missions and atmospheric probes.

• Venus is often described as the “twin sister” of the Earth because of the similarities in size, mass, density, bulk composition and gravity.

• It is believed that both planets share a common origin.

 

Source : Financial Express