Being developed at a cost of Rs 1,236 crore by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), the VOM will explore the planet’s atmosphere, surface, and its interaction with the Sun. Key scientific objectives include examining dust in the Venusian atmosphere, mapping its surface topography in high resolution, studying the solar X-ray spectrum near Venus, analyzing Venusian airglow, and investigating sub-surface characteristics, said the space agency on Tuesday. Additionally, along similar lines to Chandrayaan-3, the mission will aid in technology demonstration for ISRO, testing aerobraking and thermal management techniques in the harsh Venusian environment.
“So far, the missions (undertaken by other countries) to Venus had limited and narrow spatial coverage, either in the South Polar region or in the equatorial belt. Hence, it is difficult to build global maps of many phenomena, including winds, waves, and chemical abundances. VOM would provide uniform coverage of Venus, thus providing a unique global dataset for future science missions,” stated ISRO. The spacecraft is expected to reach Earth’s twin in over 112 days, and the tentative date of arrival, according to the space agency, will be July 19, 2028.
The space agency revealed that its trusted Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) rocket will be used to place the spacecraft around Venus. “LVM-3 has been identified as the candidate launch vehicle, which will place the spacecraft in an Elliptical Parking Orbit (EPO) of 170 km x 36,000 km, with a 21.5° inclination and an Argument of Perigee (AOP) of 178°,” said ISRO in a statement.
Post the cruise phase—spacecraft’s flight—aerobraking will be employed for over a period of 6 to 8 months to achieve the desired low altitude. During this period, several demonstrations will be undertaken to study Venus. Scientists believe these experiments will provide an excellent opportunity for the first time to probe the surface and atmosphere of Venus.
ISRO will be collaborating with countries such as Russia, France, Sweden, and Germany for the development of scientific instruments. The Cabinet had approved VOM in mid-September, alongside three other ambitious initiatives aimed at positioning the country as a space superpower.
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Chandrayaan-4 to Boost Self-Reliance and Industry ContributionIndia’s next big step in exploring the habitability of the Moon will be to bring back samples from the lunar surface. ISRO’s Chandrayaan-4 mission, scheduled for 2029 at an estimated cost of ₹2,104.06 crore, will comprise five modules: the Ascender Module (AM), Descender Module (DM), Re-entry Module (RM), Transfer Module (TM), and Propulsion Module (PM). These will be launched as two stacks on two separate LVM3 launch vehicles.
“After touchdown, a robotic arm, also called the Surface Sampling Robot, mounted on the DM will scoop 2-3 kg of samples from around the landing site and transfer them to a container on the AM. In addition, a drilling mechanism will collect sub-surface samples and transfer them to another container in the AM. The containers with samples will be sealed to prevent contamination and leakage during their journey to Earth. Various phases of sample collection operations will be monitored through video cameras,” said ISRO in a statement on Tuesday.
Promoting self-reliance, the mission aims to use all critical technologies developed in the country. Indian industries are expected to play a pivotal role in realizing the mission, promoting skill development, creating significant employment opportunities, and driving technological advancements. “Chandrayaan-4 will pave the way for India’s future manned missions, lunar sample return, and scientific analysis,” expressed the space agency.
