An upbeat ISRO fresh after its Mars Orbiter Mission is looking to accomplish more ambitious projects. It is now planning a mission to Venus.
Narendra Bhandari, space scientists associated with Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory announced this while interacting with students of IIT through Skype at the Nehru Science Centre in Worli. ISRO is not going to stop with just Venus. It is also planning a mission to a certain asteroid as well.
ISRO Chairman Kiran Kumar was quoted by Zee News as saying that Venus is our neighbor, and there are many things that need to be studied. ISRO says that it is planning to have ten launches per year by 2016.
Kumar was talking to reporters at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)’s office at nearby Akkulam that by March next 7 to 8 launches will be held which will be increased to 10 by 2016.
The last planetary mission by India happened in on 5 November 2013 when the Mars Orbiter Mission was launched. The Orbiter went into Mars orbit on 24 September 2014.
The Mars orbiter mission was accomplished on a shoe string budget and it was successful in its very first attempt. In recognition of this rare feat, it won the prestigious 2015 Space Pioneer Award in the science and engineering category. The mission was also hailed by the Indian Prime Minister as historic and spectacular.
ISRO has just launched five other satellites of the United Kingdom with its workhorse PSLV. Future missions to Venus and asteroids will be launched with heavier and more powerful GSLV MKIII rockets.
Presently ISRO is busy with its Chandrayan project that will also include landing a rover on the moon. ISRO is also contemplating a second mission to Mars and a mission to asteroids. ISRO chief further emphasized the need to formulate a project before they can create a roadmap for future exploration.
ISRO will also partner with The US in future missions. Interacting with students of Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai, U.S. Ambassador to India said the American Government looks forward to partnering ISRO for future missions in deep space.
