Astronomy:Indian Mars exploration missions

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Short description: Indian space missions aimed at Mars

Indian Mars exploration missions
Mars Orbitor Mission Launch.jpg
PSLV-XL C25 lifts off with Mars Orbiter Mission on 5 November 2013.
Country India
OrganizationISRO
PurposeExploration of Mars
StatusActive
Programme history
Cost454 crore (US$64 million)[1][2]
Duration2013–present
First flightMars Orbiter Mission, 5 November 2013; 10 years ago (2013-11-05)
Launch site(s)Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Vehicle information
Launch vehicle(s)PSLV-XL

The Indian Mars exploration missions are an ongoing series of outer space missions by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the exploration of Mars. The exploration is currently in the primary phase with Orbiter missions.[3]

There has been a single mission so far that deployed an orbiter around the planet which later lost its contact with the earth in 2022.[4][5][6] A second mission planned for 2024 when the launch window opens.[7]

Programme structure

The early phase consists of Mars orbiter missions while the next phase could be aimed at soft landing on the Martian surface and deploying a rover for sample study.[8]

Phase I: Orbiters

Mars Orbiter Mission

Diagram of Mars Orbiter Mission-1.
Region around Arsia Mons captured by MOM-1.

The first mission, which is also known as Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) was launched in 2013 which carried Mars Orbiter Mission orbiter. The original mission was expected to operate for 6 months, but it lived well past its expected lifetime and lost its contact with the earth in 2022, lasting for over seven years.

Mars Orbiter Mission 2

Mars Orbiter Mission-2 is a proposed second Indian orbiter mission to Mars. Unlike the previous orbiter, it will operate in a lower orbit with Periareon and Apoareon altitude closer to the Martian surface. It will also carry greater scientific payload that includes a hyperspectral camera, a very high resolution panchromatic camera and a radar to better understand the early stages of Mars, its early crust, recent basalts, and ongoing activities such as boulder falls.[9][10]

List of Missions

Mission

  Successful and inactive
  Active
  Unsuccessful

Mission
Launch Date
Launch Vehicle
Orbital Insertion Date Landing Date Return Date Status
Main
Mission
Extended
Mission
Expected
Mission
Duration
Final Mission
Duration
Notes
Phase 1: Orbiters
Mars Orbiter Mission 5 November 2013 PSLV-XL 24 September 2014 Success Success 6 months 7 years, 6 months, 8 days First Indian interplanetary mission.
Mars Orbiter Mission 2 TBD LVM3 TBD TBD TBD 1 year TBD Proposed second Indian Mars orbiter mission.

Gallery

See more on ISRO's website

See also

References

  1. "'We are planning to send our first orbiter to Mars in 2013' | Deccan Chronicle". 2012-08-12. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/editorial/op-ed/%E2%80%98we-are-planning-send-our-first-orbiter-mars-2013%E2%80%99-548. 
  2. "Rocket science: how Isro flew to Mars cheap" (in en). 2013-11-06. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/rocket-science-how-isro-flew-to-mars-cheap/story-WuxDKgSWXegskycsvxFtcO.html. 
  3. "Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraft". Indian Space Research Organisation. http://www.isro.gov.in/Spacecraft/mars-orbiter-mission-spacecraft. 
  4. Kumar, Chethan (2 October 2022). "Designed to last six months, India's Mars Orbiter bids adieu after 8 long years". The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/designed-to-last-six-months-indias-mars-orbiter-bids-adieu-after-8-long-years/articleshow/94599977.cms. 
  5. "With drained battery & no fuel, India's Mars Orbiter craft quietly bids adieu". https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/oct/02/with-drained-battery-no-fuel-indias-mars-orbiter-craft-quietly-bids-adieu-2504219.html. 
  6. "SCIENCE PROGRAMME OFFICE (SPO), ISRO HEADQUARTERS". https://www.isro.gov.in/MOM_NationalMeet_2022SEP.html. "It was also discussed that despite being designed for a life-span of six months as a technology demonstrator, the Mars Orbiter Mission has lived for about eight years in the Martian orbit with a gamut of significant scientific results on Mars as well as on the Solar corona, before losing communication with the ground station as a result of a long eclipse in April 2022. During the national meet, ISRO deliberated that the propellant must have been exhausted, and therefore, the desired attitude pointing could not be achieved for sustained power generation. It was declared that the spacecraft is non-recoverable, and attended its end-of-life. The mission will be ever-regarded as a remarkable technological and scientific feat in the history of planetary exploration." 
  7. MOM Orbiter enters 6th year, ISRO eyes Mangalyaan-2. Rasheed Kappan, The Deccan Herald. 25 September 2019.
  8. Megala, S (3 July 2023). 'Journey to the Unknown: Scientific Quest for Chandrayaan-3 at the Moon' by Smt. S. Megala. Event occurs at 1 hour 2 minutes 5 seconds.
  9. Neeraj Srivastava; S. Vijayan; Amit Basu Sarbadhikari (2022-09-27), "Future Exploration of the Inner Solar System: Scope and the Focus Areas", Planetary Sciences Division (PSDN), Physical Research Laboratory 
  10. Bagla, Pallava (17 February 2017). "India eyes a return to Mars and a first run at Venus". Science. doi:10.1126/science.aal0781. https://www.science.org/content/article/india-eyes-return-mars-and-first-run-venus. 

External links