After moon mission, ISRO eyes dying stars, Venus, exo-planets: S Somanath

In the wake of its triumphant Moon mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is now gearing up to unlock the enigmas surrounding dying stars and exo-planets. ISRO Chairman S Somanath made this announcement during a lecture hosted by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) on Tuesday. The space agency's ambitious agenda includes a mission dedicated to scrutinizing Venus, launching two satellites to delve into space's climatic behavior and its repercussions on Earth, and the blueprint for a spacecraft landing on Mars.

Somanath unveiled that the XPoSat, also known as the X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite, designed for the exploration of radiant X-ray pulsars or stars in their twilight, is all set for liftoff in December of this year.

In a PTI interview, he elaborated further, saying, "We are also conceiving a satellite called ExoWorlds, a mission for looking at exo-solar planets or planets that are outside our solar system and orbiting other stars."


Somanath highlighted the existence of more than 5,000 identified exo-planets, out of which around 100 are deemed to possess atmospheres. The ExoWorlds mission is primed to scrutinize these exo-planets' atmospheres, aiming to ascertain their habitability and potential to harbor life.

The plans for a Mars Lander Mission, Somanath disclosed, remain in the conceptual stages, indicating ISRO's ongoing commitment to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos.

Dwelling on the significance of investigating Venus, the ISRO Chief emphasized that the planet boasts an atmosphere with an atmospheric pressure nearly 100 times that of Earth's near its surface. Yet, the reasons behind such extreme atmospheric pressure on Venus remain a scientific enigma.

Moreover, Venus is concealed beneath dense, acidic clouds, which are impenetrable, making surface exploration an arduous task.

Somanath concluded, "It is important to understand the evolution of planetary bodies. Only if you look at Venus, Mars one can actually study what effects are there in your activities on Earth that actually makes it habitable or non-habitable. All this will depend on your understanding of it and the ability to act on it."

ISRO's ambitious ventures into the depths of space, with a focus on dying stars, exo-planets, and Venus, hold promise for unraveling the secrets of the universe and their potential implications for our own planet.

(With inputs from PTI)