Mangalyaan or MOM (24-Sep-

2014) India creates history as ISRO's first

Mars orbiter Mangalyaan successfully

enters red planet's orbit.

Here are five key questions about

the Historic Mission.

What exactly is the Mars Orbiter?

Why is it so significant?

How long did it take to reach Mars?

What scientific evidence is the MOM hoping to

collect?

How much has the mission cost?

Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)

The Mars Orbiter Mission – known as Mangalyaan or MOM –Its a spacecraft orbiting Mars since 24 sep 14.

The mission is a “Technology demonstrator” Project.

The MOM mission concept began with a feasibility study in 2010, after the launch of lunar satellite Chandrayaan-1 in 2008.

• The government of India approved the project on 3 August 2012.

• The Mars Orbiter Mission probe lifted-off from the First Launch Pad at SatishDhawan Space Centre (Sriharikota Range SHAR), Andhra Pradesh, using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket C25 on 5 November 2013.

MOM spent 25 days in the Earth's orbit

to break Geocentric phase.

On 30 November 2013 a 23-minute

engine firing initiated the transfer of

MOM away from Earth orbit and on

heliocentric trajectory toward Mars. The

probe travelled a distance of

780,000,000 kilometres to reach Mars.

Finally the Mom has completed a 300-

day marathon to make the 200-million-

kilometer journey to Mars.

India becomes fourth nation(US, Russia

and Europe) to celebrate reaching Mars

– and the first to manage it on first

attempt. Japan and China have

attempted to do so but failed.

Spacecraft Design &

specifications

The Orbiter is a 1,337 kilogram, including 852 kg of propellant.

The satellite structure is constructed of an aluminium and composite fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) sandwich construction.

Electric power is generated by three solar array panels of 1.8 m × 1.4 m each, for a maximum of 840 watts of power generation in Mars orbit. Electricity is stored in a 36 Ah Li-ion battery.

Study Purpose of MOM

The Mom carries five scientific instruments, for studying the Atmospheric, Particle environment

and Surface imaging on Mars.

The 5 instruments are,

1. LAP (Lyman-Alpha Photometer)

2. MSM (Methane Sensor for Mars)

3. MENCA (Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser)

4. TIS (Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer)

5. MCC (Mars Colour Camera)

Atmospheric studies:

1.) Lyman-Alpha Photometer (LAP):-a photometer that measures the relative abundance of deuterium and hydrogen from Lyman-alpha emissions in the upper atmosphere.

2.) Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM):– It will measure methane in the atmosphere of Mars, if any, and map its sources.

Living things produce more than 90

percent of the methane in Earth's

atmosphere.

MOM will search for methane, a key

target for researchers hunting for signs

of life on Mars.

Particle environment studies:

3.) Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA) :– It is a mass analyser capable of analysing the neutral composition of particles in the exosphere.

Surface imaging studies:

4.) Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS):– It will measure the temperature and emissivity of the Martian surface

5.) Mars Colour Camera (MCC):–

It will provide images in the visual spectrum,

providing context for the other instruments.

Cost of MOM

The total cost of the mission was approximately 454 Crores ($74 million), making it the least-expensive Mars mission to date.

The $74 million MOM mission is mainly a technology demonstration, designed to show that India can indeed get a spacecraft to Mars.

But MOM carry a camera and four scientific instruments, which the craft will use to study the planet's surface and atmosphere.

CONCLUSSION

The success of Mangalyaan showed world

nations Indian and ISRO superiority in the

space technology.

The primary objective of the Mars Orbiter

Mission is to showcase India's rocket

launch systems, spacecraft-building and

operations capabilities.

India’s Mars mission represents a

technological leap for the South Asian

nation, pushing it ahead of space rivals

China and Japan in the field of

interplanetary exploration.

1.) Improving the business and revenue of

ISRO.

2.) Space technology and Missile technology.

3.) Placing an orbit and exploring the Mars is

a prestige and proud for India and we

Indians.