Several space missions under consideration: ISRO scientist V Radhakrishna

Mysuru: After planetary missions like Chandrayaan 1, 2, 3, scientists are now planning several lunar missions including Chandrayaan 4, 5 and sending an Indian on Moon by 2040, said, V Radhakrishna of Space astronomy group, U R Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO.

Radhakrishna was giving a lecture on 'Space science missions: Challenges and Opportunities' organised by University of Mysore as part of National Science day event at Crawford hall in Mysuru on Friday.

"We also want to explore cold, dark regions near poles where volatiles like water could accumulate, regions of eternal light and possible locations for human base. Also Venus orbiter mission, transient sky monitor, exo world to study exo planets, high resolution U V image satellite, Mars lander mission and broad band X-ray polarimeter- are the future missions which are under consideration by India"

Radhakrishna said, "With lack of innovations, no one from India has bagged the Nobel prize in 95 years after C V Raman. There are budgetary and logical constraints with limited funding and resources for space missions besides complex logistical challenges in launching and operating spacecraft."

He called on the students to stay curious and pointed out that it is the curiosity of humans, which has led to all inventions and discoveries right from the origin of the Universe to searching for life beyond Earth, the possibility of life on Mars, Exoplanets, Moons.

He pointed, "Astronomy has not just helped to understand cosmos but also led to advancements in other fields of science and technology like the development of charge-coupled device, image processing techniques, satellite communication techniques, satellite technology based on planetary movements, development of robots," Radhakrishna said.

He highlighted some of the major international missions in Astronomy including Visible, Infra Red, UV missions, X rays missions, Gamma ray missions, microwave and radio missions; solar missions like Aditya-L1, and planetary missions like Chandrayan 1, 2, 3 and MOM (Mars Orbiter mission), Deep space missions.

He even explained about missions taken by different agencies like NASA, ESA, JAXA, ROSCOSMOS, ISRO, and the Chinese space agency. He dwelt on ground based astronomy done through telescopes and challenges they encountered including atmospheric effect, multi wavelength.

He spoke of techniques adopted to take up those space missions including theoretical studies, spectroscopy, imaging, timing studies, state of polarisation; experiments like planetary sciences including atmospheric study, geological study, magnetic field, and robotic exploration.

Explaining challenges for space science missions, Radhakrishna said that they require high sensitivity instruments like optics, detectors, cooling instruments; missions like orbit selection, instrument platform stability with highly accurate modern sensors; fuel efficiency, gravity assist, and others for deep space missions.

"There are effects of radiation of spacecrafts, instruments, extreme temperatures and conditions in space, challenge of communicating with spacecraft over vast distances, delay in communication and data transmission; technological limitations like limited power and resources on spacecraft, technological constraint on instrument design and performance," he said.

UoM Vice Chancellor Prof N K Lokanath also urged the Union Government to enhance allocation of funds for research in the Scientific field.

He said that Science day is celebrated to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect by C V Raman in 1928. It is also celebrated to inspire students to study Science and take it up as a career to take up research in the Scientific field. It is also meant to create awareness on scientific applications in daily life, develop Scientific temper among people, Lokanath said.

UoM Registrar M K Savitha was also present.