Mars Orbiter Mission
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| Mars Orbiter Mission | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mars Orbiter Mission |
| Mission type | Mars orbiter |
| Operator | ISRO |
| COSPAR ID | 2013-060A |
| SATCAT | 39370 |
| Mission duration | Planned: 6 months, Final: ≈8 years |
| Spacecraft | Mars Orbiter |
| Manufacturer | ISRO Satellite Centre |
| Launch mass | 1,337 kg |
| Dry mass | 488 kg |
| Power | 840 watts |
| Launch date | 5 November 2013, 09:08 UTC |
| Launch rocket | PSLV-XL C25 |
| Launch site | Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad |
| Last contact | April 2022 |
| Decay date | ≈Late 2024 (projected) |
| Orbit reference | Areocentric |
| Orbit periapsis | 421.7 km |
| Orbit apoapsis | 76,993.6 km |
| Orbit inclination | 150.0° |
| Orbit period | 72 hours, 51 minutes, 51 seconds |
| Apsis | areion |
Mars Orbiter Mission. It was the first interplanetary mission launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation and made India the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit and the first in the world to do so on its maiden attempt. The mission was a technology demonstrator, aiming to develop the capabilities required for designing, planning, managing, and operating an interplanetary mission. It successfully entered orbit around the Red Planet on 24 September 2014, after a nearly 300-day cruise through deep space.
Overview
Conceived as a low-cost, fast-track project, the mission was announced by the then Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, in August 2012. The primary objective was to showcase India's capability to design an interplanetary mission, including navigation, communication, and management in deep space. The mission achieved global recognition for its cost-effectiveness, with a total project cost significantly lower than comparable missions by other space agencies like NASA and Roscosmos. Its success positioned the Indian Space Research Organisation as a major player in deep-space exploration and inspired subsequent missions like the Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander.
Development and launch
The project was developed in a record 15 months by a team led by ISRO Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, with critical contributions from the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad and the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. The launch was conducted using a PSLV rocket, specifically the PSLV-XL variant, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota island. The launch window was carefully chosen to coincide with a favorable alignment between Earth and Mars, known as a Hohmann transfer orbit, to minimize fuel requirements. The successful launch on 5 November 2013 marked a significant milestone for the Indian Space Research Organisation and its chairman at the time, K. Radhakrishnan.
Spacecraft design
The spacecraft bus was based on the I-1K bus structure, previously used for the Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission. It was equipped with a single Liquid Apogee Motor for major orbital maneuvers and a set of eight thrusters for attitude control. Power was provided by a single solar array generating 840 watts, supplemented by a Li-ion battery. The communication system utilized S-band and X-band frequencies through a 2.2-meter high-gain antenna for deep-space tracking, supported by ground stations like the Indian Deep Space Network at Byalalu. Thermal control was critical, managed through multilayer insulation and heaters to survive the extreme temperature variations of interplanetary space.
Scientific objectives and payload
While primarily a technology mission, it carried five indigenous scientific instruments with a total mass of 15 kg. The payload included the Mars Colour Camera, which provided high-resolution images of the Martian surface and its two moons, Phobos and Deimos. The Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer mapped surface composition and mineralogy, while the Methane Sensor for Mars attempted to detect atmospheric methane. Other instruments were the Lyman Alpha Photometer to study deuterium and hydrogen, and the Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser to analyze the upper atmosphere. These instruments were developed by various laboratories within the Indian Space Research Organisation and academic partners.
Journey to Mars and orbital insertion
After launch, the spacecraft performed a series of six orbit-raising maneuvers around Earth before the final trans-Mars injection on 1 December 2013. The 666-million-kilometer cruise phase included mid-course corrections and was monitored by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Deep Space Network in addition to Indian stations. The critical Mars Orbit Insertion maneuver on 24 September 2014 involved firing the main engine for approximately 24 minutes to slow the spacecraft, allowing capture by Martian gravity. This operation, executed after a 20-minute radio signal delay, was a complete success, placing the spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit.
Mission results and legacy
The mission far exceeded its planned six-month lifespan, operating for nearly eight years and returning over 1000 images and a wealth of data. Key findings included images of the full disc of Mars, data on dust storms, and information on the composition of the Martian exosphere. Although the methane sensor did not confirm definitive methane, the mission provided valuable atmospheric studies. Its greatest legacy was establishing India's autonomous interplanetary mission capabilities, inspiring a new generation of scientists and engineers. The mission's success led to the approval of more ambitious projects, including the planned Mars Orbiter Mission 2 and cemented the reputation of the Indian Space Research Organisation for executing high-value, low-cost space exploration.
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2013 Category:Indian space probes Category:Missions to Mars Category:Indian Space Research Organisation