The fascination of exploring the vast realms of outer space has led to several ambitious missions, with one of these celestial bodies being Venus. With its rich geological and atmospheric characteristics, Venus has been a subject of interest for various space agencies around the globe. This has warranted a series of robotic and human missions, including DaVinci Plus and Veritas, sent to investigate this enigmatic planet.
A Look at Previous Venus Missions
Venus has caught the attention of several countries, including the United States, Russia, Japan, and Europe. The United States launched the Mariner series from 1962 to 1974, Pioneer Venus 1 and 2 in 1978, and Magellan in 1989. Russia sent Venera series of space crafts from 1967 to 1983, followed by Vegas 1 and 2 in 1985. More recently, Japan dispatched Akatsuki in 2015, while Europe sent Venus Express in 2005. These missions have significantly increased our understanding of Venus.
Important Highlights of Venus
Named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, Venus is the second planet from the Sun and has a size and mass similar to that of Earth. Remarkably, it’s the second brightest natural object in the night sky, following the Moon. Interestingly, unlike other planets in our solar system, Venus spins clockwise on its axis. The planet is known for its intense greenhouse effect due to high carbon dioxide concentrations, making it the hottest planet in our solar system.
ISRO’s Mission to Venus: Shukrayaan I
In a bid to contribute to space exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced its mission to Venus, named Shukrayaan I. This Orbiter Mission was initially slated for a December 2024 launch but has been postponed to 2031 due to pandemic-related delays and manufacturing impediments, with alternative launch dates set for 2026 and 2028. The mission aims to investigate Venus’s geological and volcanic activity, surface processes, shallow subsurface stratigraphy, and atmospheric dynamics using high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
Significance of Shukrayaan I Mission
The mission holds immense potential for understanding the evolution of Earth-like planets and the conditions on Earth-sized exoplanets. It will also provide insights into Earth’s climate and how drastically a planet’s climate can vary. The Shukrayaan-I will be launched on either GSLV Mk II or GSLV Mk III, depending on the number of instruments or fuel to be carried.
Delays and Challenges: What’s Slowing Down the Mission?
ISRO initially planned to launch Shukrayaan I in mid-2023. However, the global pandemic emerged as a significant setback, pushing the expected launch date to December 2024. Additionally, manufacturing delays and commercial launch commitments have impacted ISRO’s timelines. The mission is waiting for formal approval and funding, necessary pre-requisites before initiating spacecraft assembly and testing.
A Glimpse into Venus
Venus’s unique features hold great interest for scientists. A Venusian day is longer than an Earth year, taking an elongated 243 Earth days to rotate once around its axis while completing one orbit of the Sun in only 224.7 Earth days. Offering startling similarities to Earth, Venus has been called Earth’s twin due to the similar masses, sizes, densities, and relative positions they share in the solar system. Interestingly, no other planet comes closer to Earth than Venus, making it the closest large body to Earth after the Moon.
Trivia and UPSC Questions Related to Venus Missions
Understanding the details of these space missions is critical for students preparing for competitive examinations like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination. In 2014, a question was asked related to spacecraft purposes of various missions, and in 2016, a query was raised about the Mangalyaan launched by ISRO, also known as the Mars Orbiter Mission.
The constant exploration and study of Venus, combined with the upcoming ISRO mission, is set to unveil more exciting features and information about this planet, enhancing our understanding of the solar system.
