After Chandrayaan, now preparations for Shukrayaan, Modi cabinet also approved the construction of Indian Space Center

New Delhi: In the meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several proposals related to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) were approved. The Cabinet has also given the green signal to Chandrayaan 4 Mission in the series of Chandrayaan 1, 2 and 3. Its purpose is to develop the necessary technology to return to Earth after successfully landing on the Moon. Along with this, samples are to be brought from the Moon and analyzed on Earth. Chandrayaan 4 Mission is to acquire basic technical capabilities for landing of Indian astronauts on the Moon by the year 2040 and returning safely to Earth. The Cabinet has approved the mission to Venus after Moon and Mars. Along with this, Gaganyaan Follow On Mission and construction of Indian Space Center have also been approved.

Chandrayaan 4 is an ambitious project

A total of Rs 2,104.06 crore will be required for technology development for the ‘Chandrayaan 4’ mission. ISRO is responsible for the development and launch of the spacecraft. The mission is targeted to be completed within 36 months of approval with the participation of industry and academia. The necessary technology will be developed to complete docking/undocking, landing, safe return to Earth and collection and analysis of lunar samples. The government says that the successful demonstration of safe and soft landing of Chandrayaan 3 lander on the lunar surface has established some important technologies and demonstrated capabilities that only a few other countries have. The demonstration of the ability to collect lunar samples and return them safely to Earth will determine the next step of a successful landing mission. This mission will enable India to become self-reliant in critical basic technologies for manned missions, return of lunar samples and scientific analysis of lunar samples.

Now India will make Shukrayaan

The Cabinet also approved the development of ‘Venus Orbiter Mission (Shukrayaan)’ for exploration and study of planet Venus. The ‘Venus Orbiter Mission’ operated by the Department of Space will involve placing a spacecraft in orbit around Venus to better understand its surface and subsurface, atmospheric processes and the influence of the Sun on Venus’ atmosphere. After Moon and Mars, India has set science goals for planet Venus. The Cabinet approved the mission to Venus to collect scientific data for scientific investigation and better understanding of Venus’ atmosphere, geology and by probing its thick atmosphere. Venus, being the closest planet to Earth and believed to have formed under similar conditions as Earth, provides a unique opportunity to understand how planetary atmospheres can evolve very differently.

Steps taken towards construction of space center

The Cabinet has approved expanding the scope of Gaganyaan programme to build the first unit of Indian Space Station. The mission to develop first module (BAS 1) of Indian Space Station and to develop and validate various technologies for building and operating BAS has been approved. The scope of Gaganyaan programme has been expanded to include new developments for Indian Space Station and earlier missions and additional requirements to complement the ongoing Gaganyaan programme. The Gaganyaan programme is to be amended to include one additional unmanned mission and additional hardware requirement for development of ongoing Gaganyaan programme.

ISRO will get three times more powerful NGLV

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday also approved the development of a partially reusable next generation launch vehicle (NGLV) with a payload capacity three times that of ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Mark 3. It allocated Rs 8,240 crore for the development of the NGLV, three developmental flights, necessary facility, programme management and launch campaign.