Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Venus
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
India has been steadily expanding its space exploration programme through the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO. After the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission ISRO started planning other interplanetary missions. This question asks about the planet targeted in ISRO plans for its maiden dedicated mission to that particular planet which is an important fact in space related current affairs and general science.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
To solve this you should recall the sequence of ISRO planetary missions. Chandrayaan missions are for the Moon and the Mars Orbiter Mission covers Mars. The next proposed missions in media reports included a dedicated mission to Venus and possible follow up missions elsewhere. Therefore memory of these announcements and the order in which ISRO expanded its programme is the key conceptual tool.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember that ISRO successfully launched the Mars Orbiter Mission Mangalyaan in 2013 making Mars already explored by India.
Step 2: Later ISRO proposed another major planetary mission focusing on the study of Venus including its atmosphere surface conditions and interaction with solar radiation.
Step 3: Media and official statements described this as ISRO maiden mission to Venus.
Step 4: Saturn and Jupiter missions from India had not been formally approved in the same way at that time.
Step 5: Therefore the correct planet associated with the maiden mission in the question is Venus.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by elimination. Mars is already associated with a completed ISRO mission so it cannot be called a new maiden mission. Missions to Saturn and Jupiter would be much more technically complex and were only ideas not announced as the immediate next planetary mission. Multiple press releases and space news reports specifically mention an upcoming Venus mission which confirms this choice as accurate.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Mars is incorrect because India has already sent the Mars Orbiter Mission there so it is not a new maiden mission.
Saturn is wrong because no concrete ISRO mission to Saturn was formally announced for near term execution at that time.
Jupiter is also incorrect for similar reasons and remained only a long term possibility.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to associate the word maiden simply with any famous mission and choose Mars without noticing that India has already undertaken a mission to Mars. Another pitfall is mixing up global missions by agencies like NASA or ESA with ISRO specific plans. Always focus on what India and ISRO have done or announced instead of what other agencies have explored.
Final Answer:
ISRO maiden dedicated planetary mission mentioned in the question is planned to explore Venus.
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