ISRO discussing possible mission to moon with Japanese agency S Somanath

Ahmedabad, March 22 (PTI) Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath on Wednesday said that ISRO has achieved significant collaboration in its space missions and is discussing the possibility of going to the moon with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Somanath also said that there is a good chance to start the mission to explore Venus by 2028.
He delivered the inaugural address on “India’s Capabilities in Space and Planetary Exploration” at the 4th Indian Planetary Science Conference organized at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) here.
The ISRO chief said that linkages between scientific institutions around the world and ISRO in developing complex missions are important.
He cited the example of the Trishna mission, designed to monitor the Earth’s surface in the thermal infrared domain, developed by ISRO and its French counterpart CNES.
“We are discussing a possible mission to the moon with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, where they will build a Land Rover and they will launch it using a Japanese rocket,” said Somnath, also secretary of the department. Space.
He said that ISRO will look at possible involvement with other agencies in the research work.
“It’s very important that they trust you and that only happens when our tools and measurement methods meet their goals,” he said.
“ISRO has succeeded in doing significant collaboration in its space missions and it is important to have linkages between scientific institutions around the world and ISRO in developing such complex missions,” Somanath said.
Talking about the ambitious “Kaganyan” project — which aims to demonstrate human spaceflight capability by sending a three-man crew into a 400-km orbit for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to Earth — the ISRO chief said. Going well.
The project offers a lot of opportunities to conduct experiments on board, with possibilities such as microgravity, space mining, object testing and space-based observations.
“Through the Kaganyan program we have to work on this and come up with scientific goals. Sending a man up is one part, but doing something more meaningful is something we are all looking at,” he said.
Somanath said that ISRO’s plans for a Venus mission are underway.
“Venus is a very challenging planet to explore and there is a good chance of launching it by 2028,” he said, adding that there is a lot of interest in the scientific community to use the capability in this mission.
“I am sure we will take it further,” he added.
Somanath said ISRO is seeking additional approvals for Disha payloads and will explore the possibility of landing a mission to Mars after a few years.