Mangalyaan Mission

Introduction

The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), popularly known as Mangalyaan, marks India’s first interplanetary mission and a significant milestone in the nation’s space exploration journey. Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), it established India as the fourth country in the world-and the first in Asia-to successfully reach Mars orbit on its maiden attempt.

Timeline and Launch Details

Conceptualization and Objectives

• The mission was conceptualized in 2010, following the success of Chandrayaan-1, with the primary aim of developing technologies for interplanetary missions and conducting scientific studies of Mars’ surface and atmosphere.
• Secondary objectives included showcasing India’s technological capabilities and inspiring future planetary missions.

Launch and Journey

• Launch Date: 5 November 2013
• Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C25 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), chosen for its reliability after GSLV failures delayed the original plan.
• Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
• After launch, Mangalyaan spent about a month in Earth’s orbit, performing six engine burns to increase its velocity before trans-Mars injection.
• Mars Orbit Insertion: 24 September 2014, after a 300-day journey covering nearly 650 million kilometers.
• Mission Duration: Originally planned for 6 months, the mission lasted over 8 years, ending in 2022 when the orbiter ran out of fuel and lost contact with Earth.

Mission Design and Team

• Spacecraft: Based on ISRO’s I-1-K satellite bus, carrying 850 kg of fuel and five scientific payloads.
• Tracking: Managed by the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) and supported by NASA’s Deep Space Network.
• Team: Led by ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan and Mission Director Subbiah Arunan, with significant contributions from women scientists like Ritu Karidhal, Nandini Harinath, and others.

Scientific Instruments and Objectives

Mangalyaan carried five main instruments:

• Mars Color Camera (MCC): For imaging the Martian surface and monitoring weather patterns.
• Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM): To detect methane, a potential indicator of life.
• Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS): To study surface composition and mineralogy.
• Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA): To analyze the Martian atmosphere.
• Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP): To measure hydrogen and deuterium in the Martian exosphere.

Key Findings and Achievements

Operational Success: Mangalyaan completed over 8,000 orbits around Mars, capturing invaluable images and data.

Scientific Discoveries:

• • Provided detailed images of Martian surface features, including dust storms, polar ice caps, and the largest volcano, Olympus Mons.

• • Detected variations in atmospheric methane, contributing to the debate on potential biological activity.

• • Studied the Martian exosphere and surface mineralogy, enhancing understanding of the planet’s evolution.

Technological Feats:

• • Achieved Mars orbit on the first attempt, a rare accomplishment.

• • Demonstrated cost-effectiveness, with a total mission cost of $72 million-one of the cheapest Mars missions globally.

• • Inspired future missions, including Mangalyaan 2, and showcased India’s capacity for complex space exploration.

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