India's Venus Mission: ISRO invites scientists to suggest space-based studies; check deadline here

India moves a step closer to its mission to Venus as Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning for a mission to Venus, which is likely to be launched after 2020. However, to make this reality ISRO is now inviting proposals for space-based experiments from scientists across the country.

According to a report, the spacecraft using 500W of power will carry instruments what would weigh 175 kg. The scientific community has been given a deadline of May 19 to suggest space-based studies.

“The Announcement of Opportunity is just a beginning. The studies must be finalised, a project report would have to be presented and approved.”

He further said that, ” A formal mission may not happen before 2020,” The Hindu quoted a senior ISRO official as saying.

An approval for the mission to Venus needs to be taken from ISRO’s Advisory Committee on Space Sciences, followed by the SpaceCommission and finally by the government.

Isro said that Venus is described as the twin sister of the earth because of the similarities in size, mass, density, bulk composition and gravity.

"It is believed that both planets were formed at the same time around 4.5 billion years ago," Isro stated.

According to Isro, the exploration of Venus began in the early 1960s with fly by and lander missions and atmospheric probes.

"In spite of great progress made in exploring Venus, there still exist gaps in our understanding about surface, sub-surface features and processes, and super rotation of the Venusian atmosphere, its evolution and interaction with solar radiation solar wind," Isro stated.

What mission to Venus will mean to India?

Closest to Earth approximately every 583 days, Venus is the second planet from the Sun. Similar to Earth in several aspects, Venus takes only225 days to revolve around the Sun. It’s closeness to the Sun, makes it hotter.

It will be another feather in the cap for India if ISRO’s mission to Venus turns out to be successful.