The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has received approval from the Indian government for its upcoming Venus Orbiting Satellite mission, named Shukrayaan, which is slated for launch in 2028. This announcement was made by Nilesh Desai, Director of ISRO, during a recent media interaction.
“The Indian government has recently given a nod to our Venus Orbiting Satellite — Shukrayaan… It will be launched in 2028… The idea of Chandrayaan 4 has been proposed as a follow up of Chandrayaan 3, where we will land not only on the moon but also will return with soil and rock samples,” Desai said.
Additionally, Desai unveiled plans for Chandrayaan 4, a follow-up to the successful Chandrayaan 3 mission. This ambitious project will be a joint effort between India and Japan, aiming for a precise landing at the Moon’s south pole at 90 degrees south latitude. This mission will also include a significantly heavier rover, weighing 350 kg—12 times the size of its predecessor. Although the project has not yet received full approval, Desai is optimistic that with governmental clearance, the mission could be executed by 2030.
Apart from these missions, ISRO is also working on enhancing its weather and communication systems. Discussions are underway regarding the launch of advanced sensors and satellites as part of the INSAT 4 series. These new technologies will enable ISRO to catch up with global advancements in meteorology and oceanography, improving weather forecasts and satellite communication systems.
Desai also shared plans for future Mars exploration. As part of the Mars mission, ISRO intends not only to place a satellite in Mars’ orbit but also to make an attempt to land on its surface.
“As a part of the Mars mission, we will not only put a satellite on the Mars orbit but we will also attempt to land on it’s suface.. Gaganyaan will be launched in the next two years.. It will be an unmanned flight after which we will launch a manned flight. The government has also given an approval to construct India’s own space station. It will not be as big as the ISS but will have five modules. We will launch the first module in 2028 and India’s space station will be ready by 2035.. As a part of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to land on the moon by 2040, our space station will function as a transit facility en route,” he said. (ANI)