The Incredible Journey of India's Mangalyaan Mission
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Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also called Mangalyaan (Hindi: “Mars Craft”), unmanned mission to Mars that is India’s first interplanetary spacecraft. On November 5, 2013, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was used to launch the Mars Orbiter Mission from Sriharikota Island, Andhra Pradesh. The Mangalyaan mission's most important aspects are as follows:
Launch and Trajectory:
1. The launch vehicle PSLV C-25 is an XL version of the PSLV. 2. From the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh's Nellore District, this mission was launched. 3. ISRO launched this mission on November 5, 2013.
Objectives: The design, development, and deployment of a Mars Orbiter spacecraft capable of functioning with enough autonomy during the travel phase, Mars orbit insertion or capture, and in-orbit phase around Mars are among the mission's primary technological goals. In order to research the Martian surface characteristics, morphology, minerals, and environment, MOM carries five scientific payloads.
Payload: Mangalyaan carried five scientific instruments onboard. The Mars Color Camera, a methane sensor, a thermal infrared imaging spectrometer, a Lyman-Alpha photometer, and a particle environment analyzer (Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyzer) were among the instruments used. These tools made it possible to gather information on numerous characteristics of Mars.
Orbital Insertion: India became the first Asian country to visit the planet on September 24, 2014, after Mangalyaan successfully entered Mars' orbit. Careful calculations and maneuvers were required for the insertion into the Martian orbit in order to guarantee that the spacecraft would be dragged into Mars' gravitational field and establish a stable orbit around the planet.
Mission Achievements: The Mangalyaan mission achieved several significant milestones. It successfully completed its primary mission of studying the Martian atmosphere and surface features. It offered useful information on the climatic trends, atmospheric makeup, and probable methane sources of Mars. The project showed India's capacity to carry out intricate interplanetary missions on a budget that was very little.
Extended Mission: Mangalyaan's mission was extended for a another six months in March 2015 after its initial six-month mission was a success. The spacecraft carried on gathering information and taking pictures of Mars throughout the extended mission. The mission extension gave us the chance to collect more scientific data and deepen our knowledge of the Red Planet.
Launch and Trajectory:
1. Launch Vehicle:The launch vehicle PSLV C-25 is an XL version of the PSLV. The PSLV is a reliable and versatile launch vehicle that has been used for a wide range of missions.
2. Transfer Orbit: After the launch, Mangalyaan was injected into an elliptical Earth orbit. This initial orbit is commonly referred to as a parking orbit or a transfer orbit. 3. Earth-Mars Transfer Trajectory: The Hohmann transfer orbit was followed by Mangalyaan to go to Mars. The spacecraft is propelled along this route from Earth's orbit to Mars' orbit by the combined gravitational pull of Mars and Earth. An energy-efficient route that makes use of the relative locations of Earth and Mars during the launch window is the Hohmann transfer orbit. 4. Mars Orbit Insertion: After the journey of approximately ten months, Mangalyaan approached Mars. On September 24, 2014, the spacecraft completed the essential Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) procedure. During MOI, the spacecraft's engines were fired to slow it and allow Mars' gravity to bring it into an orbit. 5. Capture and Orbit: Once captured by Mars' gravity, Mangalyaan entered an elliptical orbit around the Red Planet. The spacecraft's orbit was designed to be highly elliptical to facilitate scientific observations and data collection. 6. Planned Orbit: Mangalyaan's orbit around Mars is elliptical, with a periapsis of around 365 kilometers and an apoapsis of about 80,000 kilometers. During this orbit, the spacecraft was able to look into the atmosphere, the surface characteristics, and any potential signs of life on Mars.
To guarantee a successful trip to Mars, Mangalyaan's launch and route required exact calculations, knowledge of orbital mechanics, and meticulous preparation. India's space exploration endeavors reached a critical milestone with the mission's accomplishment in reaching Mars and entering its orbit, proving the nation is capable of carrying out interplanetary missions.
Mission Achievements:
The Mars Orbiter project (MOM), also known as the Mangalyaan project, reached numerous important milestones and advanced our knowledge of Mars. Here are a few mission accomplishments:
1. India's ability to complete the difficult journey to Mars in its first try while being cost-effective (Rupees 450 Cr) has attracted worldwide attention and enhanced India's reputation as a reliable space faring nation. This capacity may open up further possibilities for space commerce, such as the sale of satellite imagery and launch services.
2. Demonstrated Technological Capability: Mangalyaan showcased India's technological capabilities in space exploration. The mission was accomplished within a modest budget, demonstrating ISRO's ability to undertake complex interplanetary missions.
3. Study of Martian Atmosphere: Data on Mars' surface characteristics, minerals, atmospheric processes, and trace gases have been gathered by the Mangalyaan mission. The geological and climatic history of Mars will be better understood thanks to the data.
4. Surface Imaging: One of MOM's scientific payloads, the Mars Colour Camera, has already produced more than 1100 photos and a Mars Atlas. published over 35 research articles in publications with peer review.
5. Methane Detection: Mangalyaan was equipped with a methane sensor called the Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM). The instrument aimed to detect and analyze the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere. The data collected helped in understanding the distribution and sources of methane on Mars.
6. Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyzer (MENCA): MENCA was an instrument onboard Mangalyaan designed to study the neutral composition of the Martian upper atmosphere. It provided data on the constituents of the Martian exosphere and helped in understanding the escape of atmospheric gases into space.
7. Extended Mission: The Mangalyaan's core objective was successfully completed, and an extra six months were added to the mission. The spacecraft continued to gather data and photographs throughout the extended mission, which improved our knowledge of Mars.
8. Technological Advancements: The Mangalyaan project required the creation of fresh systems and technology for interplanetary travel. The project sparked improvements in spacecraft navigation, communication, data processing, and design, advancing space technology as a whole.
The Mangalyaan mission is largely considered as India's space program's most impressive accomplishment. It showed that the nation was capable of taking on difficult interplanetary missions, gave useful scientific information about Mars, and encouraged international cooperation in space research. Mangalyaan's success opened the door for further space missions and increased our understanding of the Red Planet.
