September 26, 2014
The Indian spacecraft Mangalyaan, also known as the Mars Orbiter Mission, successfully entered orbit around Mars, making India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit and the first nation in the world to do so on its first attempt.
Mars orbit, India | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
On September 24, 2014, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a historic milestone with the successful insertion of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan, into orbit around Mars. This accomplishment marked India as the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit and the first country globally to do so on its maiden attempt.
Inception: The Mars Orbiter Mission was announced by then-Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2012. The mission aimed to develop the technologies required for interplanetary missions.
Launch: Mangalyaan was launched on November 5, 2013, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C25.
Objectives: The mission’s primary objectives included the demonstration of ISRO’s capability to design, plan, and execute an interplanetary mission. Scientific goals included the exploration of Mars’ surface features, morphology, atmosphere, and mineralogy from orbit.
Trans-Martian Injection: After a series of Earth-bound maneuvers to build up the necessary velocity, the spacecraft was successfully inserted into a heliocentric orbit on December 1, 2013, setting it on course for Mars.
Cruise Phase: Mangalyaan traveled approximately 300 days through space, covering a distance of about 650 million kilometers.
Date and Time: On September 24, 2014, at 07:17 IST, Mangalyaan executed a critical 24-minute engine burn to slow down and enter Mars’ orbit.
Success: The maneuver was successful, and Mangalyaan was placed into an elliptical orbit around Mars, with a periapsis (closest point) of 421.7 km and an apoapsis (farthest point) of 76,993.6 km.
Cost-Effectiveness: The mission was notable for its cost-effectiveness, with a budget of approximately $74 million, making it one of the least expensive Mars missions to date.
Technological Achievement: Mangalyaan demonstrated India’s growing capabilities in space technology and interplanetary exploration, boosting ISRO’s reputation on the global stage.
Scientific Contributions: The mission provided valuable data on Martian surface features, morphology, and atmosphere, contributing to the global understanding of Mars.
Extended Mission: Originally intended to last six months, Mangalyaan continued to function well beyond its expected lifespan, providing data for several years.
Inspiration: The success of Mangalyaan inspired further space exploration initiatives in India, including plans for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
Mangalyaan’s successful mission to Mars stands as a testament to ISRO’s ingenuity and the potential for cost-effective space exploration, inspiring future generations of scientists and engineers in India and around the world.
Source: en.wikipedia.org