The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan, was a space probe launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). MOM was launched on November 5, 2013, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, and entered Mars orbit on September 24, 2014. The Mangalyaan mission is an important milestone for ISRO, as it is the first time that India has sent a spacecraft to another planet. It has also helped to increase the country’s international standing in the field of space exploration.
What is Mars Orbiter Mission?
India’s maiden voyage to Mars marked a historic milestone for the nation, showcasing its prowess in space exploration. With a payload of five scientific instruments onboard, the mission aimed to delve into the mysteries of the Martian surface and atmosphere while hunting for signs of methane and other trace gases. Despite the daunting challenges, the mission triumphed, achieving all its goals and earning India the distinction of being the first Asian nation to reach the Red Planet, a feat accomplished on its very first endeavor.
Objectives of the Mission
The main goal of the mission was to showcase India’s ability to create, strategize, and carry out a challenging interplanetary journey. In simpler terms, the mission aimed to demonstrate India’s capability to tackle complex space missions successfully.
- India sent a spacecraft to orbit Mars to learn more about its surface, atmosphere, and minerals.
- Scientists looked for any signs of life, past or present, on Mars, especially focusing on the possibility of finding water.
- The mission tested out important technologies needed for future crewed missions to Mars, like figuring out how to navigate autonomously, propulsion systems, and communication methods.
- The Mangalyaan mission put India’s space program on the global map, earning it recognition worldwide. It also aimed to encourage more collaboration between countries in space exploration efforts.
Challenges
The Mangalyaan spacecraft configuration is a balanced mix of designs from the flight-proven IRS/INSAT/Chandrayaan-1 bus. The configuration and subsequent design of the Mangalyaan spacecraft have also faced many challenges during its mission life.
- Varying the thermal environment of Mars,
- Radiation environment,
- Solar Array,
- Power backup systems or Battery life,
- Communication systems (the antenna system),
- Propulsion systems and on-board autonomy.
Achievements
The achievements of India’s indigenously built “Mangalyaan Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan-I” are as follows-
- India’s Mangalyaan Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan-I, marked a historic achievement by becoming the first Asian nation to reach the orbit of Mars. Remarkably, it accomplished this feat on its maiden attempt.
- The international space community has recognized India’s Mangalyaan Mission-I as the most cost-effective Mars mission ever undertaken. It stands as a testament to India’s efficient and innovative approach to space exploration.
- Mangalyaan-I, India’s pioneering spacecraft, made history by successfully navigating through the Van Allen Belt on 39 separate occasions. This milestone solidified its status as the first Indian spacecraft to accomplish such a feat.
- Mangalyaan-I etched its name in the annals of space exploration by becoming the first Indian spacecraft to break free from Earth’s gravitational pull and enter orbit around the Sun. This achievement highlights India’s growing prowess in space science and technology.
India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan-I Mission won some famous awards which are listed below.
- In 2015, the team behind India’s Mangalyaan-I Mission, comprised of scientists from ISRO, was honored with the prestigious Space Pioneer Award by the National Space Society based in the United States.
- The Mangalyaan-I mission, hailed as a remarkable achievement, received accolades from the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who proudly referred to it as the ‘Pride of Asia‘.
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