Sweden joins India’s Shukrayaan mission to Venus

Sweden has formally joined India’s ambitious Venus exploration programme, the Shukrayaan mission, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sweden.

An agreement was signed between the and the to collaborate on India’s Venus mission, marking a significant step in scientific and space cooperation between the two countries.

Swedish Contribution to the Mission

As part of the collaboration, Sweden’s will develop a scientific instrument called the Venusian Neutrals Analyser (VNA).

The instrument will fly aboard India’s Venus orbiter and is intended to study the interaction between solar charged particles and the atmosphere of Venus. Scientists consider this interaction crucial for understanding atmospheric loss, space weather effects, and the evolution of Venus over time.

About Shukrayaan Mission

India’s Venus mission, officially known as the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), was approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2024.

The mission, to be undertaken by the Department of Space, aims to place a scientific spacecraft into the orbit of Venus for detailed study of:

• Venusian surface and subsurface
• Atmospheric processes
• Geological activity
• Interaction between the Sun and Venusian atmosphere

The mission is expected to be launched during the launch opportunity available in March 2028. 

Key Features of Venus

• Venus is the second planet from the Sun and Earth’s closest planetary neighbour.
• Scientists believe that Venus and Earth formed under similar conditions billions of years ago, making Venus an important subject for comparative planetary studies.
• Despite similarities in size and structure, Venus evolved very differently from Earth and is often called Earth’s “evil twin”.
• Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system.
• Surface temperatures reach around 467°C (872°F), hot enough to melt lead.
• Its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere creates a runaway greenhouse effect.
• Venus rotates very slowly and spins in the opposite direction compared to most planets.
• It is the third brightest object visible in the sky after the Sun and Moon.
• Venus does not have a natural moon. However, it possesses a quasi-satellite named Zoozve. Quasi-satellites are asteroids that orbit the Sun while remaining close to a planet over long periods.

Significance of the Collaboration

The India-Sweden collaboration highlights growing international cooperation in deep space exploration and planetary science. The mission is expected to contribute significantly to global understanding of planetary evolution, atmospheric dynamics, and climate processes relevant not only to Venus but also to Earth.

Sources: ToI & NASA