Which mission by ISRO aims to explore Venus and study its atmosphere?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
Shukrayaan-1
Explanation
Shukrayaan-1 (officially approved as the Venus Orbiter Mission or VOM) is the dedicated planetary mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) designed to explore Venus and study its complex, dense atmosphere. In Sanskrit, "Shukra" means Venus and "Yaan" means craft or vehicle.
The mission is an interplanetary orbiter that will carry advanced scientific instruments (payloads) to study the Venusian surface, sub-surface stratigraphy, atmospheric chemistry, and cloud dynamics. Venus has an incredibly hostile environment with a runaway greenhouse effect, a thick atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide, and clouds composed of sulfuric acid. Studying Venus helps scientists understand why it evolved so differently from its "twin" planet, Earth, and provides critical data on long-term climate changes.
Key Points
The Union Cabinet of India formally approved the Venus Orbiter Mission, allocating a budget of ₹1,236 crore for its realization. The spacecraft is scheduled to be launched using India's heavy-lift launch vehicle, the LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3). The mission features broad international collaborations, including highly specialized payloads like the Venusian Neutrals Analyser (VNA) built by Sweden to study how solar winds interact with the planet's atmosphere.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Which heavy-lift launch vehicle has ISRO designated to carry the Shukrayaan-1 spacecraft into space?
Answer: LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3).
Question: What is the main composition of the extremely thick and trapping atmosphere of Venus that Shukrayaan-1 aims to analyze?
Answer: Carbon dioxide (CO2).