India's ISRO Sets Sights On Venus And SpaceX-Like Autonomous Precision Landing Of Rockets

Union Minister of State for Space Jitendra Singh on Wednesday (14 December) informed that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken initiatives for feasibility studies on missions to Venus as well as Aeronomy studies.

The term “aeronomy,” coined and introduced about 60 years ago, refers to the scientific study of the upper atmospheric regions of the Earth and other solar system bodies.

It covers the chemistry, dynamics and energy balance of both neutral and charged particles.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Singh said that both these missions are being conceptualised and the scientific scopes are being deliberated nationally with participation of science community.

Earlier last week, Singh had informed the Lower House of the Parliament that the Department of Space has initiated studies towards undertaking the development of critical technologies required to achieve Autonomous Precision Landing of Space Rockets and their demonstration through Vertical Take-off and Vertical Landing (VTVL) of test vehicles.

The autonomous precision landing technology, used by US space company SpaceX, will help in reducing the cost of space launch as the same rocket can be used for multiple launches.