India's premier space agency, ISRO, on 5 November 2013 successfully launched its historic mission to Mars from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, about 100 from Chennai. It was India’s first mission to the red planet. The mission follows India’s successful 2008-2009 Chandrayaan-1 moon probe, which discovered water molecules in the lunar soil. The total cost of the Mars mission is 73 million US dollars.
The main features of the Mars mission are as following:
• The main objective of the mission is to develop the technologies required for design, planning, management and operations of an interplanetary mission.
• The main objective of the mission is to explore Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and search for methane in the Martian atmosphere using indigenous scientific instruments.
• The satellite carries instruments such as Lyman Alpha Photometer, a methane sensor, a composition analyser, a camera and an imaging spectrometer for studying the atmosphere, particle environment and surface imaging.
• The satellite is scheduled to reach the Mars orbit in September 2014 and is designed to circle the Red Planet in an elliptical orbit of 366 km X 80000 km.
Mission Objectives
one of the main objectives of the first Indian mission to Mars is to develop the technologies required for design, planning, management and operations of an interplanetary mission.
A. Technological Objectives:
• Design and realisation of a Mars orbiter with a capability to survive and perform Earth bound manoeuvres, cruise phase of 300 days, Mars orbit insertion / capture, and on-orbit phase around Mars.
• Deep space communication, navigation, mission planning and management.
• Incorporate autonomous features to handle contingency situations.
B. Scientific Objectives:
• Exploration of Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and Martian atmosphere by indigenous scientific instruments.
Payloads
1. Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP)
2. Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM)
3. Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA)
4. Mars Colour Camera (MCC)
5. Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometre (TIS)
About Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)
Primary objectives of the Mars mission are to demonstrate India’s technological capability to send a satellite to orbit around Mars and conduct meaningful experiments such as looking for signs of life, take pictures of the red planet and study Martian environment. The main aim of MOM to be to seek whether there is methane, considered a precursor chemical for life, on the red planet. Methane sensor, one of the five payloads (scientific instruments) on board the spacecraft, would look to detect the presence of methane. The XL version of the Indian Space Research Organisation's workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) would be used for launching of the mission. The satellite will carry compact science experiment instruments, totalling a mass of 15 kg. There will be five instruments to study Martian surface, atmosphere and mineralogy. After leaving the earth’s orbit, the spacecraft will cruise in deep space for about ten months using its own propulsion system and will reach Martian transfer trajectory in September 2014. The spacecraft subsequently is planned to enter into a 372 km by 80000 km elliptical orbit around Mars.
Satellite
|
Launch Date
|
Launch Vehicle
|
Type of Satellite
|
| Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraft |
05.11.2013
|
PSLV-C25
| Space Mission |
| GSAT-7 |
30.08.2013
|
Ariane-5
VA-215 | Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| INSAT-3D |
26.07.2013
|
Ariane-5
VA-214 | Geo-Stationary/Meteorological Satellite |
| IRNSS-1A |
01.07.2013
|
PSLV-C22
| Navigation Satellite |
| SARAL |
25.02.2013
|
PSLV-C20
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| GSAT-10 |
29.09.2012
|
Ariane-5
VA-209 | Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| RISAT-1 |
26.04.2012
|
PSLV-C19
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| Jugnu |
12.10.2011
|
PSLV-C18
| Experimental / Small Satellite |
| SRMSat |
12.10.2011
|
PSLV-C18
| Experimental / Small Satellite |
| Megha-Tropiques |
12.10.2011
|
PSLV-C18
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| GSAT-12 |
15.07.2011
|
PSLV-C17
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| GSAT-8 |
21.05.2011
|
Ariane-5
VA-202 | Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| RESOURCESAT-2 |
20.04.2011
|
PSLV-C16
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| YOUTHSAT |
20.04.2011
|
PSLV-C16
| Experimental / Small Satellite |
| GSAT-5P |
25.12.2010
|
GSLV-F06
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| STUDSAT |
12.07.2010
|
PSLV-C15
| Experimental / Small Satellite |
| CARTOSAT-2B |
12.07.2010
|
PSLV-C15
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| GSAT-4 |
15.04.2010
|
GSLV-D3
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| Oceansat-2 |
23.09.2009
|
PSLV-C14
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| ANUSAT |
20.04.2009
|
PSLV-C12
| Experimental / Small Satellite |
| RISAT-2 | 20.04.2009 |
PSLV-C12
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| Chandrayaan-1 |
22.10.2008
|
PSLV-C11
| Space Mission |
| CARTOSAT - 2A |
28.04.2008
|
PSLV-C9
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| IMS-1 |
28.04.2008
|
PSLV-C9
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| INSAT-4B |
12.03.2007
|
Ariane-5ECA
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| CARTOSAT - 2 |
10.01.2007
|
PSLV-C7
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| SRE - 1 |
10.01.2007
|
PSLV-C7
| Experimental / Small Satellite |
| INSAT-4CR |
02.09.2007
|
GSLV-F04
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| INSAT-4C |
10.07.2006
|
GSLV-F02
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| INSAT-4A |
22.12.2005
|
Ariane-5GS
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| HAMSAT |
05.05.2005
|
PSLV-C6
| Experimental / Small Satellite |
| CARTOSAT-1 |
05.05.2005
|
PSLV-C6
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| EDUSAT (GSAT-3) |
20.09.2004
|
GSLV-F01
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| Resourcesat-1(IRS-P6) |
17.10.2003
|
PSLV-C5
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| INSAT-3A |
10.04.2003
|
Ariane-5G
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| INSAT-3E |
28.09.2003
|
Ariane-5G
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| GSAT-2 |
08.05.2003
|
GSLV-D2
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| KALPANA-1(METSAT) |
12.09.2002
|
PSLV-C4
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| INSAT-3C |
24.01.2002
|
Ariane-42L H10-3
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) |
22.10.2001
|
PSLV-C3
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| GSAT-1 |
18.04.2001
|
GSLV-D1
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| INSAT-3B |
22.03.2000
|
Ariane-5G
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| Oceansat(IRS-P4) |
26.05.1999
|
PSLV-C2
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| INSAT-2E |
03.04.1999
|
Ariane-42P H10-3
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| INSAT-2DT |
January 1998
|
Ariane-44L H10
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| IRS-1D |
29.09.1997
|
PSLV-C1
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| INSAT-2D |
04.06.1997
|
Ariane-44L H10-3
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| IRS-P3 |
21.03.1996
|
PSLV-D3
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| IRS-1C |
28.12.1995
|
Molniya
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| INSAT-2C |
07.12.1995
|
Ariane-44L H10-3
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| IRS-P2 |
15.10.1994
|
PSLV-D2
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-C2) |
04.05.1994
|
ASLV
| Space Mission |
| IRS-1E |
20.09.1993
|
PSLV-D1
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| INSAT-2B |
23.07.1993
|
Ariane-44L H10+
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| INSAT-2A |
10.07.1992
|
Ariane-44L H10
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-C) |
20.05.1992
|
ASLV
| Space Mission |
| IRS-1B |
29.08.1991
|
Vostok
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| INSAT-1D |
12.06.1990
|
Delta 4925
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| INSAT-1C |
21.07.1988
|
Ariane-3
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-2) |
13.07.1988
|
ASLV
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| IRS-1A |
17.03.1988
|
Vostok
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-1) |
24.03.1987
|
ASLV
| Space Mission |
| INSAT-1B |
30.08.1983
|
Shuttle [PAM-D]
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| Rohini (RS-D2) |
17.04.1983
|
SLV-3
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| INSAT-1A |
10.04.1982
|
Delta 3910 PAM-D
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| Bhaskara-II |
20.11.1981
|
C-1 Intercosmos
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE) |
19.06.1981
|
Ariane-1(V-3)
| Geo-Stationary Satellite |
| Rohini (RS-D1) |
31.05.1981
|
SLV-3
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| Rohini (RS-1) |
18.07.1980
|
SLV-3
| Experimental / Small Satellite |
| Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) |
10.08.1979
|
SLV-3
| Experimental / Small Satellite |
| Bhaskara-I |
07.06.1979
|
C-1 Intercosmos
| Earth Observation Satellite |
| Aryabhata |
19.04.1975
|
C-1 Intercosmos
| Experimental / Small Satellite |
