Indias Mars Orbitor

India wrote history today! There got added one more chapter of success and regalia in the book of Indias cosmic voyages. On November 5, 2013, under the expert supervision of Indias premier space research agency - the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India launched C-25 rocket at at 2:38 PM IST (9:08 UTC). By achieving the feat (that is, once the rocket sets itself up on the orbit of Mars), Indias ISRO has now successfully joined the elite band of only 3 other agencies to have done the same: the Roscosmos, NASA and ESA! In this post we would delineate some of the salient features behind the mission and the objectives it would serve India in the long run in the hitherto, unending space! Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) - Why MOM? The Mars Orbiter Mission or as is known informally, the Mangalyaan. In Sanskrit it means the Mars Aero Voyage (and quite rightly so!). Very interestingly, Mangal also means joy. Thus, Mangalyaan could also mean the aero voyage of joy.

Being a developing nation, India desperately needed to take flight into the space avenue as well. However since most space ventures are very costly and a failure, therefore, risking attempts into it is not a very prudent thinking. Thus, ISRO came up with the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) project which was touted to be a technology demonstrator. Thus the MOM project would effectively serve as the go-in-between between it and any future attempts that India would make in the future since the MOM would provide Indian space organizations with enough information to develop the technologies required to plan, design, manage and operate interplanetary missions.

The Launch of Mangalyaan - Indias first mission to Mars Every Indian was concerned, if not anxiously waiting for the clock to strike 2:38 PM IST (9:08 UTC) on November 5, 2013 when the probe lifted off from the First Launch Pad at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This launch was lifted from Indias proud invention, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) which successfully launched the C-25 rocket. Prior to this, the launch window was open for about 20 days starting from October 28, 2013. The plan for MOM, nevertheless, was approved by the Government of India on 3rd August, 2012. The total cost of the project was estimated to be around INR 4.54 billion which is approximately US$69 million. After the completion of preliminary studies, the launch was planned for 28th October, 2013, however, owing to the notorious weather condition on the Pacific, the spacecraft tracking ships could not be positioned at the pre determined positions on the ocean; thus, the launch was rescheduled for 5th November, 2013. At the core design level, Mangalyaan is very similar to its predecessor Chandrayaan1 with some specific improvements and up gradations, of course. Since most of the power to be consumed inside the probe is to be generated from solar energy and since the net influx of solar rays near the Mars is lower, the solar panel surface area of Mangalyaan is expected to be increased than Chandrayaan1. Mangalyaans Circuitous Trajectory Although meant to hover around the Mars, Mangalyaans trajectory is not straight forward due to certain key technical aspects. Initially after the launch the rocket would set itself into Earths orbit wherein six engine firings would raise that orbit to one with an apogee of 23,000 kilometres and a perigee of 238 kilometres where it will continue to float for 25 days. Around 30th of November, 2013 there would be one final boosting (firing) which would propel the MOM for its interplanetary trajectory; this would be the first attempt to direct MOM towards Mars. Thus until this firing, MOM is right there, up above our heads on the Earths orbit. Subsequently, it is expected that on 24th September, 2014, MOM would be able to enter into Mars highly elliptical orbit. It is this phase in the mission which, if achieved successfully, would allow ISRO to enter the league of (only) 3 other space agencies which have achieved similar feat in the past. But why MOM We briefly noted what MOM is and how MOM is going to accomplish its voyage into the Martian atmosphere. But the most important question yet to be enquired is about what ISRO, India (and the world in the larger context of the purpose) would gain through such expensive project(s). Through MOM some of the most important objectives would be fulfilled:

MOM would, as we stated earlier, pave the easy path for further Martian explorations. It is meant to provide the basic prototype and relevant information needed to develop future technologies. Besides MOM would also serve as the showcase for India to exhibit its rocket launching, and spacecraft building capabilities besides having the state-of-the-art technologies to sustain their operations. For instance, this venture would showcase Indias capabilities into deep space communication and navigation! And finally and quite expectedly to discover the Martian surface for studies in mineralogy, morphology and other key surface features.

Indeed November 5, 2013 would be the day when every Indian would be able to hold his/her head high in honour for the successful space voyage that we started this day. Together we celebrate the glory brought by our heroes at ISRO in conjunction with the necessary support provided by the Government of India.