Moon, Mars and now Venus: Union Cabinet gives major support to ISRO

The Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the green light to India Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), marking a significant advancement in the country’s space ambitions. The mission aims to deepen India’s space explorationexpanding its reach beyond the Moon and Mars to focus on the planet Venus.
According to a statement from the cabinet, the mission, scheduled for launch in March 2028, will help understand “the atmosphere of Venus, its geology and will generate a huge amount of scientific data by studying its thick atmosphere.”
The official statement emphasized the importance of Venus as Earth’s closest planetary neighbor, which could have formed under similar conditions. “Venus offers a unique opportunity to understand how planetary environments can evolve in very different ways,” the release noted.
The mission, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), aims to place a scientific spacecraft in orbit around Venus. The mission will study Venus’ surface, atmosphere and subsurface, as well as the effect of the Sun on Venus’ atmosphere. Scientists are particularly interested in understanding why Venus, once considered habitable and similar to Earth, underwent such a drastic transformation.
ISRO will oversee the development and launch of the spacecraft, using its established project management practices. The data collected will be shared with the global science community. The mission is scheduled to launch in March 2028 and is expected to provide answers to pressing scientific questions about Venus.
This Venus The Orbiter mission has a budget of Rs 1,236 crore, of which Rs 824 crore has been earmarked for spacecraft development, payloads and the launch vehicle. “The cost includes development and implementation of the spacecraft, including its specific payloads and technology components, global ground station support costs for navigation and networking, and the cost of the launch vehicle,” the cabinet said.
“This mission will enable India to conduct future planetary missions with larger payloads and optimal approach to orbital entry,” the release added.
Indian industry and academic institutions will play a key role in the development of spacecraft and launch vehicles, offering employment opportunities and technological advancements across sectors.
This mission will enable India to conduct future planetary missions with larger payloads and employ optimal orbit insertion approaches.
Chandrayaan-4 expansion approved
The Union Cabinet also approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission, a significant step forward in India’s space exploration efforts. The mission aims to develop and demonstrate the technologies required to safely land on the Moon, collect lunar samples and return them to Earth.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing reporters in New Delhi, said, “Chandrayaan-4 mission has been expanded with more elements. The next step is a manned mission to the Moon. All preparatory steps in this direction have been approved.”
The government has earmarked Rs 2,104 crore for the mission, which is scheduled to be completed in 36 months. Chandrayaan-4 will demonstrate key technologies required for India’s future lunar landing (planned for 2040), including docking, docking, lunar sample collection and safe return to Earth.
The Chandrayaan-4 mission is a follow-up to the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3, which placed India among the few nations capable of landing on the Moon. Chandrayaan-4 will build on that achievement by bringing back lunar samples for analysis on Earth.
ISRO will oversee the spacecraft development and launch, and the mission is expected to be completed in 36 months. Indian industries and academic institutions will play a key role by ensuring that key technologies are developed indigenously. The mission also promises significant job creation and technological advancement for various sectors.
The Chandrayaan-4 mission will be a key step towards India’s self-reliance in the fundamental technologies required for manned lunar missions and lunar surface sampling, positioning the country as a leading player in global space exploration.
Indian Space Station by 2035
The Chandrayaan-4 mission is part of a broader vision for India’s space programme that includes setting up the Bharatiya Antariksh (Indian Space Station) by 2035. Additionally, plans are underway for the follow-on missions to Gaganyaan and Venus Orbiter, with a focus on developing advanced space transportation and infrastructure.