After Moon And Mars Probe, Cabinet Approves Mission To Venus

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The Cabinet has also "approved a fund of Rs 1,236 crore for the VOM, of which Rs 824 crore will be spent on the spacecraft"

Venus is the closest planet to Earth and is believed to have formed in conditions similar to Earth

The VOM mission will be accomplished by the Department of Space and is envisaged to orbit a scientific spacecraft in the orbit of planet Venus

New Delhi, Sept 18: After successful missions to the Moon and Mars, India is now set to explore Venus, with the Union Cabinet Wednesday approving the development of the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM).

The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the mission to Venus for scientific exploration.

The mission, expected to launch in March 2028, will help unravel the "Venusian atmosphere, geology and generate large amounts of science data probing into its thick atmosphere", according to a Cabinet communique.

The Cabinet has also "approved a fund of Rs 1,236 crore for the VOM, of which Rs 824 crore will be spent on the spacecraft".

"The cost includes development and realisation of the spacecraft including its specific payloads and technology elements, global ground station support cost for navigation and network as well as the cost of the launch vehicle,” the Cabinet said.

Venus is the closest planet to Earth and is believed to have formed in conditions similar to Earth. The probe offers a unique opportunity to understand how planetary environments can evolve very differently, and to find the causes for the transformation of Venus -- believed to be once habitable and quite similar to Earth.

The VOM mission will be accomplished by the Department of Space and is envisaged to orbit a scientific spacecraft in the orbit of planet Venus.

"ISRO will be responsible for the development of the spacecraft and its launch. The project will be effectively managed and monitored through the established practices prevailing at ISRO. The data generated from the mission would be disseminated to the scientific community through existing mechanisms," the Cabinet communique said.

The mission would also enable India for future planetary missions with larger payloads, and optimal orbit insertion approaches.

(IANS)

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1st Test: Ashwin-Jadeja Rearguard Act Helps India Reach 339/6 Against Bangladesh

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

Chennai, Sept 19: An unbeaten 195-run partnership between Ravichandran Ashwin, who hit his sixth Test century, and Ravindra Jadeja was the perfect rearguard act India needed to get out of trouble and reach 339/6 in 80 overs at stumps on day one of the series opener against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium Thursday.

In the mid of the second session, India were in a hole at 144/6, before Ashwin (102 not out) and Jadeja (86 not out) ensured India were not just out of trouble but also came out with an advantage and swing day one in their favour.

The fightback from the two veteran spin-bowling all-rounders meant India made 163 runs without losing a wicket in the final session.

Ashwin also notched up his second Test century at his home ground after the 2021 clash against England, which is also his fastest hundred in the longer format for India.

Post lunch, India’s run-scoring spree continued as Jadeja pulled Hasan Mahmud for six, while Ashwin got a fat outside edge running for four and unleashed a neat cover drive off the pacer for two boundaries.

Jadeja welcomed Shakib Al Hasan with a sweep for four, while Ashwin slog-swept him for six. Shakib continued to get attacked as Jadeja slog-swept and then hit a straight drive to collect consecutive fours. Ashwin brought out a glorious on-drive off Nahid Rana for four and survived a short bouncer test from him to get his fifty in 58 balls.

There was no stopping the duo as Jadeja tonked Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a four while Ashwin used Nahid Rana’s pace and bounce to ramp him over the infield and then flicked him for two fours.

After Ashwin swept Shakib for four, Jadeja got his fifty and went on to pull Mehidy for a brace of boundaries, followed by him playing a lovely cover drive off Nahid through the gap for four more.

While Jadeja was pristine in his pull, slog-sweep and drive, Ashwin delighted in coming down the pitch to clobber Mehidy for six and cut Nahid for four before getting his century in 108 balls, much to the delight of the sparse Chepauk crowd, before stumps arrived.

Brief scores: India 339/6 in 80 overs (Ravichandran Ashwin 102 not out, Ravindra Jadeja 86 not out; Hasan Mahmud 4-58) against Bangladesh.

(IANS)

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MUDA: Guv Asks CS To Submit Report On Fresh Accusations Against CM

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Bengaluru, Sep 19: In fresh trouble for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a new submission has been made against him to the Karnataka Governor involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The fresh submission accuses him of carrying out projects worth hundreds of crores in his constituency through oral orders, violating the Karnataka Urban Development Authority Act.

Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot has sought a detailed report from Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh at the earliest in connection with the fresh accusations against CM Siddaramaiah, sources confirmed on Thursday.

The Governor, in his letter to the Chief Secretary dated September 5, stated that one P.S. Nataraj from Mysuru submitted a detailed representation on August 27 in this regard.

The Governor’s letter says, “P.S. Nataraj has informed that the MUDA has undertaken works worth Rs 387 crore in violation of Section 15 and 25 of the Karnataka Urban Development Authority Act, 1987 on the oral instruction of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.”

“The works were taken up in his Assembly constituency Varuna and also in Srirangapatna Assembly constituency,” the letter says.

The petitioner alleged that in spite of non-availability of funds in the authority, a decision was taken on the oral instruction of the Chief Minister.

Further, he alleged that by doing this the authority misused its power and requested an enquiry from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

“Since, the allegation is of a serious nature, it is directed to look into the matter and submit the detailed report along with documents at the earliest,” Gehlot has directed Rajneesh.

The development is likely to stir a huge controversy and be deemed as a setback to CM Siddaramaiah who is already facing accusations of alleged illegal allotment of sites to his wife by the MUDA.

The High Court of Karnataka has reserved the matter for judgment.

The BJP is demanding the CM’s resignation and the fresh accusations are going to be used by the party against CM Siddaramaiah as it plans to intensify its agitation in the state.

--IANS

After Moon And Mars Probe, Cabinet Approves Mission To Venus

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