ISRO chief says Gaganyaan mission must avoid this: report
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath has reportedly stressed the need for caution over Gaganyaan, India’s first human space mission, despite it being ready for launch by the end of this year. Addressing a press conference, Somanath referred to the issues plaguing NASA’s Boeing Starliner spacecraft and warned of potential risks. The Starliner, which launched on June 5 with astronauts on board, was supposed to return on September 7 but the astronauts were stuck due to technical issues. NASA astronauts Sunitha Williams and Butch Wilmore are now set to return in February 2024 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
Exploring New Frontiers: Venus Mission
ISRO’s ambitious Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) was also highlighted by Somanath as an important project approved by the Union Cabinet, according to a Business Standard reportWith a budget of Rs 1,236 crore, this mission is expected to launch in March 2028.
The Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), currently under development, will take seven years to complete. Therefore, the Venus mission will use the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3).
Challenges of Exploring Venus
Although Venus is Earth’s closest planetary neighbour, it poses more challenges than Mars due to its extreme atmospheric conditions. S Somanath told the publication that Venus’ atmosphere is 100 times more pressurised than 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 a major milestone in the space exploration race.
Growing interest in space startups
The ISRO chairman also expressed enthusiasm about the growing interest in the Indian space sector, especially the contributions of startups. Somanath acknowledged the impressive developments in satellite technology from private companies and noted a major shift in the space industry landscape.
