Fri Sep 20 12:56:52 UTC 2024: ## ISRO Cautious About Gaganyaan Launch, Eyes Venus Exploration

**Bengaluru:** The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is moving ahead with its ambitious human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, but with caution, according to ISRO Chairman S Somanath. While the mission is scheduled for launch by the end of the year, Somanath has cited the Boeing Starliner spacecraft’s recent setbacks as a reminder of the importance of safety. “I don’t want what happened to the Boeing Starliner, so we should be very careful,” he said.

Meanwhile, ISRO is also setting its sights on exploring Venus, with the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) approved by the Union Cabinet. Somanath emphasized the scientific and potential future implications of studying Venus, noting that “tomorrow Earth may become inhabitable due to some reasons. So if you do not study what is happening in Mars and Venus, possibly our future generation will be affected.”

The VOM, expected to launch in March 2028, will be India’s second interplanetary mission after the successful Mars Orbiter Mission. While Venus is closer to Earth than Mars, its dense atmosphere presents a more challenging environment for exploration. With Russia, China, and Japan also planning missions to Venus by 2030, ISRO aims to launch its mission using the existing Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3).

Beyond the ambitious space missions, Somanath expressed his enthusiasm for the growing participation of startups in the space sector, noting the significant progress being made in areas like satellite development. “The transition has already happened. Today, we can see many startups building their own satellites,” he said.

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