Exploring Venus: ISRO Gathers Nation’s Top Minds Ahead of Shukrayaan 2028 Launch

Updated: November 02, 2025 15:38

Image Source: ISRO

ISRO convened a National Science meet to strategize India’s maiden Venus Orbiter Mission, scheduled for launch in March 2028. The meeting, held in Bengaluru, gathered 150 scientists and researchers to align on mission objectives, scientific payloads, and collaboration, underscoring India’s ambitious leap into deep-space exploration.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) hosted a significant National Science meet at its Bengaluru headquarters to accelerate preparations for India’s inaugural Venus orbiter mission, set for launch in March 2028. The two-day event assembled over 150 scientists, engineers, and academic experts from ISRO and nearly 40 premier research institutes nationwide to foster coordination and optimize the mission’s scientific potential.

Key Highlights:

Mission Overview: The Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), also called Shukrayaan-1, aims to study Venus’s atmosphere, clouds, aerosols, lightning, ionosphere, solar wind interactions, surface, and subsurface features, enhancing understanding of Earth’s sister planet.
Scientific Collaboration: Over 70 specialists representing diverse national institutions actively contributed, emphasizing a cooperative national thrust towards deep-space exploration.
Cutting-Edge Payloads: Planned instruments include synthetic aperture radar, thermal and cloud monitoring cameras, atmospheric spectropolarimeters, and solar occultation photometers to analyze Venusian aerosols and clouds.
Technological Milestones: The mission will pioneer India’s first aero-braking attempt—utilizing atmospheric drag to adjust orbit—boosting fuel efficiency and orbital stability.
Leadership Vision: ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan highlighted the importance of communicating India’s scientific achievements to the public, inspiring scientific curiosity and pride.
Research Integration: ISRO invited proposals for detailed scientific studies using mission data, fostering an active user community and broadening research impact.

Scheduled to launch aboard ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Mark-3, the mission will embark on a 112-day journey, reaching Venusian orbit mid-2028. This ambitious project marks a giant stride for India’s space capabilities and planetary science.

Sources: UNI India, Wikipedia, ISRO official release

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