The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved India’s Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), marking a major step forward in the nation’s space exploration efforts. Scheduled for launch in March 2028, the VOM aims to extend India’s exploration beyond the Moon and Mars, focusing on the planet Venus.

Mission Goals

The Venus Orbiter Mission will investigate Venus’s atmosphere and geology, providing valuable scientific data about the planet’s dense atmosphere. The mission aims to answer critical questions about Venus, which, despite being similar in size and composition to Earth, has a radically different environment.

“Venus presents a unique chance to understand how planetary environments can evolve in vastly different ways,” an official statement noted.

Project Details

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will lead the mission, developing and launching the spacecraft.
• The mission will study Venus’s surface, atmosphere, subsurface, and the impact of the Sun on the planet’s atmosphere.
• The spacecraft and mission management will adhere to ISRO’s established practices.
• The data collected will be shared with the global scientific community.
• The mission has a budget of Rs 1,236 crore, with Rs 824 crore allocated for spacecraft development, payloads, and launch vehicle costs.

Chandrayaan-4 Expansion

The Cabinet has also approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which aims to advance India’s lunar exploration capabilities. This mission will focus on developing technologies necessary for a safe lunar landing, lunar sample collection, and return to Earth. The mission is slated to launch in 36 months with a budget of Rs 2,104 crore.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that Chandrayaan-4 will build on the success of Chandrayaan-3 by demonstrating key technologies for future manned moon missions and lunar sample return.

Future Prospects

The Chandrayaan-4 mission and the Venus Orbiter Mission are part of a broader vision for India’s space program. Future plans include establishing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035, and continued advancements in space transportation and infrastructure.

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