Sweden’s Ambassador Praises India’s Space Achievements and Future Venus Mission

New Delhi, India – Sweden’s Ambassador to India, Jan Thesleff, has praised India’s progress in space missions, highlighting that India is achieving feats that many other countries have not, despite spending more money. He described India’s upcoming Venus Mission as “fascinating” and expressed strong hopes for its success.

Thesleff noted that the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are collaborating on the Venus mission, Shukrayaan-1, which is set to launch in 2025. This mission will study Venus’ surface and atmosphere using various instruments, including radar, spectrometers, and cameras. The mission aims to explore Venus’ geology, volcanology, and search for signs of life.

Emphasizing the growing partnership between India and Sweden, Thesleff said that their relationship is built on sustainability, green transition, and innovation. He mentioned that both countries are working together to create more energy-efficient solutions with less emission.

Thesleff also shared his recent visit to Bangalore, where he met with Indian space firms, including ISRO, to explore collaboration opportunities. He praised the achievements of Chandrayaan-3 and expressed optimism for future missions, including Chandrayaan-4 and the Venus mission.

The Ambassador stressed the importance of immediate climate action, quoting Mahatma Gandhi, “The future depends on what we do in the present.” He emphasized that achieving a sustainable future requires collective effort and urgent action.

Earlier, Sweden’s State Secretary for Foreign Trade, Hakan Jevrell, met with ISRO Chairman Somanath S in Bengaluru to discuss potential future collaborations, including optical ground stations and the exchange of experts for space research.