As India is known for being able to carry out its ambitious space projects at a cheaper rate as compared to its contamperories, ISRO is now focusing on Mars, something that even world’s richest person, Elon Musk, has announced plans for it.

Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) director Nilesh Desai outlined plans for Mars exploration and space station development. “As a part of the Mars mission, we will not only put a satellite on the Mars orbit but we will also attempt to land on it’s surface. The government has also given an approval to construct India’s own space station. As a part of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to land on the moon by 2040, our space station will function as a transit facility en route,” ToI reported quoting Desai.

The upcoming mission is not India’s first expedition to the red plant. India’s Mars Orbiter craft has run out of propellant and its battery drained beyond the safe limit, fuelling speculation that the country’s maiden interplanetary mission ‘Mangalyaan’ may have finally completed its long innings. The Rs 450 crore Mars Orbiter Mission was launched onboard PSLV-C25 on November five, 2013, and the MOM spacecraft was successfully inserted into Martian orbit on September 24, 2014 in its first attempt.

What is Elon Musk’s mission?

SpaceX is set to launch around five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars over the next two years, according to CEO Elon Musk. Musk announced on social media platform X on Sunday that these missions will align with the next Earth-Mars transfer window, scheduled to open in two years.

“No matter what happens with landing success, SpaceX will increase the number of spaceships travelling to Mars exponentially with every transit opportunity. We want to enable anyone who wants to be a space traveler to go to Mars! That means you or your family or friends – anyone who dreams of great adventure,” he stated.

What is Venus Orbiter Mission?

‘Shukrayaan – 1’ combines Sanskrit words ‘Shukra’ (Venus) and ‘Yaana’ (craft). Isro initiated the concept of ‘Shukrayaan -1’ in 2012 by requesting payload proposals from research institutions.

The ambitious mission aims to undertake a detailed investigation of Venus, which scientists consider similar to Earth. The investigation encompasses the planet’s surface, atmosphere and geological structure. The programme involves positioning a spacecraft in Venus’s orbit to gather essential information about the planet’s weather patterns, atmospheric elements and potential geological activities. The spacecraft will utilise advanced scientific equipment for these observations, reported ToI.

The planned orbital vehicle is expected to be equipped with various instruments, including synthetic aperture radar, infrared and ultraviolet imaging devices, and specialised equipment for studying Venus’s ionosphere.

The venture will enhance understanding of Venus’s dense cloud cover, which consists mainly of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid. Additionally, it will investigate evidence of active volcanic formations. Although Shukrayaan-1 continues development, Isro has yet to announce specific launch timing and crucial mission specifications.