India's Mars Mission hits first hurdle

[thesolar65]

Chennai: India's mission to Mars, launched last week, has hit its first problem. Last night, the satellite was not able to raise its orbit by the required 100,000 km.

The Indian Space and Research Organisation or ISRO says the satellite is "healthy" and another attempt to push it higher will be held early tomorrow morning. Lacking the power to fly directly, the launch vehicle is meant to schedule the orbit of Earth for nearly a month, building up the necessary velocity to break free from our planet's gravitational pull.

The 450-crore mission to Mars, India's first attempt at inter-planetary travel, has made international headlines, at least in part for its cost-efficiency.

The 350-tonne launch vehicle carrying an unmanned probe blasted off on November 5 from the space port of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The Mars Orbiter Mission, known as "Mangalyaan" in India, was announced only 15 months ago by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, shortly after China's attempt flopped when it failed to leave Earth's atmosphere.

The gold-coloured probe, the size of a small car, will aim to detect methane in the Martian atmosphere. It has been hurriedly assembled and is being carried by a rocket much smaller than US or Russian equivalents.

India's Mars Mission hits first hurdle | NDTV.com

 

[OrionHunter]

What was the apogee it has reached if not the planned one?

 

[Ammyy]

As isro said

The Indian Space and Research Organisation or ISRO says the satellite is "healthy" and another attempt to push it higher will be held early tomorrow morning

Till now nothing to worry.

 

[cirr]

Don't panic。

It hasn't made an attempt to break free from mother earth yet。

 

[faithfulguy]

Don't panic。

It hasn't made an attempt to break free from mother earth yet。

As I said earlier, break from earth's orbit is the first challenge. Then enter Mars's orbit is the 2nd challenge. Just fire the rocket into space is not much of a challenge at all compare to the difficulties of the mission.

 

[Chronos]

What was the apogee it has reached if not the planned one?

Planned is 100,000 Kms.

The actual reached is arounf 78,000 Kms I believe.

 

[Arya Desa]

It's failed already. How sad :'( This really is quite shameful for us.

 

[Guynextdoor2]

As I said earlier, break from earth's orbit is the first challenge. Then enter Mars's orbit is the 2nd challenge. Just fire the rocket into space is not much of a challenge at all compare to the difficulties of the mission.

You're not supposed to talk about these things because you're poor 

Planned is 100,000 Kms.

The actual reached is arounf 78,000 Kms I believe.

Will burn a lot of fuel to make that correction. Can reduce useful life in the end.

 

[faisal6309]

It is the part of the job. They will solve this problem..

 

[OrionHunter]

It is the part of the job. They will solve this problem..

But unfortunately more fuel would be spent to raise the orbit. They require this for mid course corrections and for putting it into precise orbit around Mars.

 

[cirr]

The next perigee is at a rather awkward location，ie. a blind zone of a few minutes between tracking stations in Brazil and South Africa。

 

[Indo-guy]

But unfortunately more fuel would be spent to raise the orbit. They require this for mid course corrections and for putting it into precise orbit around Mars.

Apparently fuel wasted in this maneuver is just 2 kg . The precise insertion of Spacecraft had earlier saved 6 kg of fuel . so there is still 4 kg of surplus fuel ....

This is in addition to safety margin of fuel contained in the space craft !


I do not think this instance alone is going to affect mission or space craft life significantly .... 

It's failed already. How sad :'( This really is quite shameful for us.

It's not failed yet ....Don't be so pessimistic !

 

[thesolar65]

@Hafizzz Are you sad that I posted this early before you post it?

 

[Superboy]

Only about 70% of planned height. This is going to be rough, considering the mission is only a few days old out of nearly 365 days just to get to Mars.

"The problem occurred during a manoeuvre designed to boost the craft's maximum distance from 71,623km to 100,000km."

BBC News - Indian Mars mission hit by snag

 

[Indo-guy]

Only about 70% of planned height. This is going to be rough, considering the mission is only a few days old out of nearly 365 days just to get to Mars.

"The problem occurred during a manoeuvre designed to boost the craft's maximum distance from 71,623km to 100,000km."

BBC News - Indian Mars mission hit by snag

we shall see !!!

Time is the best arbitrator in all debates and arguments ....it has the final word and final say...

and it resolves all disputes beyond contention ....

so wait for time to deliver its judgment !!!