SHUKRAYAAN-1: Explore all about ISRO's next mission to Venus

INTRODUCTION ABOUT SHUKRAYAAN

A little more than a month after successfully soft landing Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s south pole and launching the country’s first solar mission Aditya-L1, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has turned its attention to our neighbour planet Venus. ISRO chairman Sreedhara Panicker Somanath stated on Tuesday that the Venus mission, unofficially refers as Shukrayaan-1, is making progress. The mission has been configured, and many payloads are now under development.

Shukrayaan-1 will be ISRO’s first mission to VENUS. Shukrayaan This name is made up of two Sanskrit words ‘SHUKRA’ which means VENUS and ‘YAAN’ means CARRIAR. ISRO had prepared Venus mission in 2012 but later postponed it.

TECHNICAL DETAILS ABOUT VENUS

So before moving about Shukrayaan-1, We learn about some technical things about Venus.

Venus is the second planet of our solar system.
The size and mass of it same of Earth.
The atmosphere of Venus contains 96% CO2, 3% N and 1% other gases (SO2, CO, Water Vapour, He, Ar, Ne)
Atmospheric pressure is near about 100 times of Pressure of Earth
Day Length: 243 Earth Days
Year Length: 225 Earth Days
Average Distance From Earth: 25 million Km
Average distance from Sun: 108.8 million km/ 0.72 astronomical units (AU)
Moons: 0
Surface temperature: 464°C (More than nearest planet Mercury)

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF SHUKRAYAAN-1

The Shukrayaan mission’s major purpose is to perform a thorough investigation of Venus, which is popularly known as “Earth’s twin.”

EXAMINE VENUS’s SURFACE AND ATMOSPHERE: Venus’ dense atmosphere obscures its surface, making it difficult to observe. The purpose of Shukrayaan-1 is to penetrate this layer and uncover the secrets beneath. As a result, it allows a better understanding of weathering, erosion, and other geological phenomena.
EXAMINE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOLAR RADIATION AND SURFACE PARTICLES: Scientists are eager to explore the interaction of solar radiation with Venus’ surface features, which may offer insight on planetary evolution.
EXAMINE AND ANALYSE GEOGRAPHICAL COMPOSITION OF VENUS SURFACE: Venus’ geological composition has not been well researched, and its surface is coated with deadly clouds. The mission will provide critical information for better understanding the planet’s geological past.

LAUNCH VEHICLE OF SHUKRAYAAN-1

Now after two successful missions, ISRO is focusing its attention on Venus Orbiter Mission. According to ISRO, Shukrayaan-1 will be launched from GSLV Mark II or GSLV Mark III, which will carry a High Resolution Synthetic Aperture R (SAR) and a Ground Penetrating Radar. With which we can uncover the mystery of the hottest planet of our solar system.

Instruments from India and other countries will be sent in a science payload of 100 kg, out of which 16 Indian and 7 international instruments have been shortlisted.

SELECTED INDIAN INSTRUMENTS

Venus L and S band (SAR)
VSEAM
VARTISS
VCMC
VIC
ETA (Electron Temperature Analyser)

NAVA
VASP
LIVE
RAVI
SPAV
VISWAS
MASS SPECTROMETER
RPA (Retarding Potential Analyser)
VODEX
VENUS SOLAR SOFT X-RAY SPECTROMETER
VIPER
VENUS RADIATION ENVIRONMENT MONITOR

INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENT

TERAHERTZ by NASA
Two Russian payloads by the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and Russian Space Research Institute
VIRAL (Venus InfraRed Atmospheric Gases Linker)
IVOLGA

OTHER GLOBAL MISSIONS TO VENUS

Despite the tremendous technological hurdles of landing on Venus, several pioneering missions to investigate the planet have been launched.

VENERA SERIES (1961-1984): With its Venera series, the Soviet Union became the first country to send a spacecraft to the Venus. They conducted several successful missions between 1961 and 1984, including flybys of the orbiter landers and ballons.

PIONEER VENUS (1978): USA sent its first mission to Venus in 1978, which included both an orbital and a multiprobe, allowing radar mapping to study aspects of the atmosphere including atmospheric composition and temperature, cloud structure and dynamics, and surface features.

MAGELLAN (1989): Magellan was launched by NASA in 1989, in which the surface of the entire planet was studied with the help of radar imaging. Magellan had studied the topography and geography of the planet in detail during its 4 years span.

AKATSUKI (2010): The objective of the orbital probe sent by Japan Space Agency JSXA in 2010 was to study in detail the atmospheric circulation patterns of Venus’s with the help of infrared camera.

FUTURE MISSIONS

VERITAS: Conducted by NASA in 2026 the main objective of this mission is to study Venus geology and mapping of surface.

DAVINCI: This also conducted by NASA in 2026, main objective of it is to study Venus atmosphere using descent sphere.

EnVision: this is conducted by the ESA in 2030 which main objective is to study Venus geology and mapping of surface and as well as the atmosphere of Venus using descent sphere.

CHALLANGES AHEDS

VENUS IS A HOSTILE PLANET FOR STUDY: Venus’s dense clouds make difficult to research from orbiter, while heat, H2SO4 droplets, high pressure makes is more difficult to research. That is why the orbiter requires sophisticated and sensitive technology.

LIMITED COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES: Till date more than 40 Venus mission has been conducted, out of which half of them unsuccessful. Only three spacecraft have orbited Venus in the last 30 years. That is why ISRO will have to design and develop everything on its own from the beginning.

LONGEVITY OF ORBITER: According to Nasa, the spacecraft will not be able to stay around Venus for long, because due to the very high temperature the electronics parts of the spacecraft can get damaged. Therefore, to make the mission successful, ISRO will have to develop new heat resistant materials and electronics.

CONCLUSION ABOUT SHUKRAYAAN

ISRO’s success in Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan provides an impeccable record for India in interplanetary missions. Aditya Elevation will also help in developing ISRO’s heat resistant instrument. And this factor will help India a lot in developing Venus mission. Other space agency in the world is showing its interest in Venus, the second planet of the solar system. NASA proposed 2 Venus missions earlier this year to further consider launch opportunities in 2025 and 2028. The European Space Agency is developing a Venus orbital mission named EnVision. So, it would be high time for India to showcase its potential and conduct a successful Venus orbital mission.

SHUKRAYAAN-1: Know all about ISRO’s next mission towards Venus

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