Space collaboration received a significant boost during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Europe, with Sweden formally joining India's Venus orbiter mission and Norway signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Sweden's Role in Venus Mission
Sweden's Swedish Institute of Space Physics will develop the Venusian Neutrals Analyser (VNA), a scientific instrument to be flown aboard India's Venus orbiter. The VNA will study how charged particles from the Sun interact with the atmosphere and exosphere of Venus. India's Venus spacecraft is expected to embark on a 112-day journey and reach the planet by July 2028.
Speaking in the presence of PM Modi on May 17, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said, "Sweden is proud to be on our way to Venus with India." He highlighted the long-standing collaboration between ISRO and Sweden's National Space Agency since the 1980s, emphasizing that the new partnership builds upon decades of trust.
The Venus orbiter mission, approved by the Modi cabinet in 2024 with an outlay of Rs 1,236 crore, involves launching the spacecraft aboard an LVM-3 rocket into an initial elliptical orbit before settling into a Venusian orbit with a periapsis of 500 km and an apoapsis of 60,000 km. The mission will carry 19 payloads, including Indian and international instruments. Its Preliminary Design Review was completed in April 2026. Through this mission, ISRO aims to study Venus' dense atmosphere, volcanic surface, weather systems, and mysterious super-rotating clouds. Scientists also hope to investigate whether Venus once had conditions suitable for liquid water before evolving into an extreme greenhouse world.
Norway MoU with ISRO
On the MoU between ISRO and the Norwegian Space Agency, PM Modi said in Norway on Monday, "We are grateful to Norway for supporting the operations of India's Arctic research station Himadri. The MoU signed between ISRO and the Norwegian Space Agency will give a new dimension to our space cooperation. Through deeper collaboration in these fields, our scientists will contribute towards understanding climate change, protecting fragile ecosystems, and securing humanity's future. India and Norway's Green Strategic Partnership will benefit the entire world."
