Shukrayaan-1 mission: ISRO's ambitious Venus endeavor set to unravel the mysteries of Earth's twin

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After the groundbreaking success of Chandrayaan-3 mission and the triumphant Aditya-1 mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is embarking on a new cosmic journey, this time setting its sights on Venus.

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ISRO chief S. Somanath's Vision: During his address at the Indian National Science Academy, S. Somanath revealed ISRO's plans for a multi-faceted mission involving Venus exploration, climate analysis satellites, and a Mars landing project.

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ISRO's next project, unofficially named Shukrayaan-1 misison, is dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of Venus. "Venus is a very interesting planet. It also has an atmosphere, which is so thick that you cannot penetrate the surface," S. Somanath explained.

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The concept of a Venus mission originated in 2012, gaining momentum with a 23 percent budget increase for the Department of Space in 2017-2018. ISRO initiated preliminary studies that year and solicited payload proposals from research institutes.

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Shukrayaan-1 misison aims to assess the surface and atmosphere of Earth's twin, analyzing its geological composition and delving into the thick, toxic clouds. Insights into the link between solar radiation and surface particles on Venus are also anticipated.

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By studying Venus, scientists hope to gain insights into Earth's past, considering that our planet was not habitable billions of years ago. This mission offers a unique opportunity to unravel the evolution of celestial bodies.

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NASA acknowledges the challenges of imagining life on Venus presently, but some scientists entertain the possibility of microbial existence in the cooler cloud regions. Observations of phosphine, a potential microbial life indicator, have fueled this speculation.

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ISRO's Venus Mission holds profound significance for scientists and the global space community, providing a glimpse into the potential habitability and conditions of distant planets.

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While the gears of India's Venus Mission are already in motion, ISRO is yet to unveil crucial details, including the launch date. The anticipation builds as the space exploration community eagerly awaits further announcements.

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In the vast expanse of our cosmic neighborhood, ISRO's ambitious missions stand as beacons of human curiosity, unlocking the secrets of the universe one celestial body at a time.