The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch a spacecraft to orbit Venus, the hottest planet in the solar system.

ISRO chairman S Somnath said the project report has already been prepared on the mission.

 "Building and putting a mission to Venus is possible for India in a very short space of time as the capability today exists with India," news agency IANS cited Somnath as saying.

ISRO is planning the launch to Venus in December 2024 as The timing is important since during this period Earth and Venus will be so aligned that the spacecraft can be put in the neighbouring planet's orbit using a minimum amount of propellant.  

Somnath said the mission would study the atmosphere of Venus and what lies below the sulphuric acid cloud that covers the planet.  The surface processes of the planet such as the active volcanic hotspots and lava flows will also be studied.

The mission would be on the same lines as Chandrayaan-I and Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) that were successful in achieving their objectives.

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