Highlights:
• Isro plans to explore dark side of the Moon
• Isro also wants to return to Mars with another mission
• The more imminent focus is on Venus
The Japanese space agency, JAXA, and the India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) planned to investigate the moon’s dark side, are negotiating the launch of a lander and rover combo. Anil Bhardwaj, Director of the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, disclosed the details at the Akash Tattva conference in Dehradun.
A mission to the Moon is currently being prepared for launch by the Indian space agency. The Chandrayaan-3 mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2023, will build on the success of the Chandrayaan-2 mission. Isro plans to investigate the Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSR) on the Moon, which scientists consider to be time capsules containing a wealth of information.
The lunar lander and rover will be built by Isro, and according to the initial plans, they will be launched into orbit by a Japanese rocket with a planned landing close to the south pole of the moon. Bhardwaj said it was in discussions with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for sending a lunar rover to explore the permanent shadow region.
ISRO’s more imminent focus on Venus
Isro intends to send another expedition to Mars as the Mangalyaan project has concluded, but Venus remains the organization’s top priority right now. Venus, known as the mystifying twin of Earth, is a great case study to comprehend how planetary systems are impacted by climate change.
A 400-kg class satellite carrying the payload will be positioned in an orbit around the Sun so that it can continuously view the star from a location known as the Lagrange Point L-1, according to Bhardwaj, who added that Isro is also preparing to launch the Aditya L-1 mission. The orbit would be 1.5 million kilometres from Earth and study coronal heating, the acceleration of the solar wind, the beginning of coronal mass ejections, flares, and near-Earth space weather.
According to Bhardwaj, the Aditya L-1 and Chandrayaan-3 missions would be prioritised starting as early as next year, and the trips to Venus and the moon with JAXA would certainly follow.
