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After its rendezvous with Moon and Mars, ISRO has now set its eyes on Venus.

There is a possibility that a spacecraft from India will be launched in December 2024 to orbit with Venus.

Stating this in the Capital on Wednesday, the 4th of May, 2022 during a daylong meeting on Venusian science, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath said the Venus mission has been conceived, a project report made and “money identified”.

“Building and putting a mission on Venus is possible for India in a very short space of time as the capability today exists with India,” Somnath said in his inaugural address.

The space agency is eyeing the December 2024 window for its launch with orbital maneuvers planned for the following year when earth and Venus would be so aligned that the spacecraft could be put in the neighbouring planet’s orbit using a minimum amount of propellant.

The next similar window would be available in 2031.

However ISRO chief cautioned against repeating experiments conducted by previous missions to the Venus and focus on unique high-impact outcomes as were achieved by Chandrayaan-I and Mars Orbiter Mission.

Among the experiments planned include an investigation of the surface processes and shallow sub-surface stratigraphy, including active volcanic hotspots and lava flows, studying the structure, composition, and dynamics of the atmosphere, and investigation of solar wind interaction with the Venusian Ionosphere.