Shukrayaan-1 mission: ISRO's odyssey to unveil Venus' enigmatic secrets
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Shukrayaan-1 mission will mark ISRO's inaugural venture to Venus, aiming to explore the secrets beneath its scorching surface and its sulfuric acid-laden clouds.
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ISRO Chief, S Somanath, revealed details at the Indian National Science Academy, affirming that the mission is in the conceptual phase with developed payloads.
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Somanath highlighted the need to understand Venus, emphasising its atmosphere with pressures 100 times greater than Earth's near the surface, yet the reasons behind it still remain unknown.
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Challenges of Venus Exploration: Thick acidic clouds shroud Venus, making surface exploration daunting. Somanath explained the difficulty in penetrating these clouds, setting the stage for the ambitious Shukrayaan-1 mission.
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Launch Timeline: Shukrayaan-1 mission is slated for a late launch next year, showcasing India's determination to delve into the mysteries of Venus.
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Venus Exploration History: Over 40 spacecraft, including Japan's Akatsuki, have embarked on Venus missions. Notably, Nasa's Mariner 2, in 1962, forever transformed our perception of Earth's neighbouring planet.
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Significance of Mariner 2: Mariner 2's findings revealed Venus as a runaway global hothouse, inspiring a deeper understanding of Earth's climate and potential safeguards.
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Exploring Venus poses challenges due to extreme heat and air pressure. The Soviet Union's Venera 13 probe, surviving just over two hours in 1981, holds the surface longevity record.
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Upcoming Missions: Nasa's DAVINCI mission, set for 2031, focuses on atmospheric descent, possibly providing crucial surface data. Future missions like VERITAS and EnVision plan orbital observations in the 2030s.
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Shukrayaan-1 mission will represent India's bold venture into the unexplored realm of Venus, aligning with global efforts to decipher the mysteries of our celestial neighbours.