Mangal Yan enters critical phase. Thruster Motor Test to decide the fate of Mission.

[ptltejas]

ALSO ON FACEBOOK

ISRO - Indian Space Research Organisation - Bangalore, India - Government Organization | Facebook

 

[JanjaWeed]

Mars spacecraft test-fired successfully, to enter red planet’s orbit on Wednesday


CHENNAI: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) scientists have successfully reignited the Mars Orbiter Mission spacecraft's main engine for four seconds as a trial before the final firing to get into the red planet's orbit early on Wednesday.

The liquid apogee motor (LAM) engine has been idle for about 300 days since the spacecraft left the Earth's orbit on a Martian trajectory on December 1, 2013. The short-duration test was to ensure that the engine is in good shape for the 24-minute manoeuvre on Wednesday.

MOM executed with precision a set of commands sent from mission control in Bangalore last week and fired the 440N engine for close to four seconds. This test took the spacecraft away from its trajectory by more than 100km, but a different set of commands have been fed into the system to bring it back to the ideal Martian orbital insertion.

"We are obviously relieved," said an Isro scientist. "Now we know that the engine is fit for Wednesday's exercise." There were apprehensions of the long duration of idling would have affected some valves because of the corrosive fuel used. If the main engine doesn't fire on Wednesday, an alternative plan is to fire the eight thrusters of the spacecraft to capture the Martian orbit. This Plan B, however, would not help MOM achieve a perfect orbit to take up scientific studies during its elliptical journey around Mars.

If everything goes fine, Isro aims to put the spacecraft in an orbit with a periapsis (closest point to Mars) of 423km and an apoapsis (farthest point) of 80,000km. Of the 51 Mars mission so far by various countries, only 21 have been successful.

Mars spacecraft test-fired successfully, to enter red planet’s orbit on Wednesday - The Times of India

 

[Bobby]

I'm not sure there is any real trajectory connection that needed to be done with a firing of less than 4 seconds. It was just a warming up before the main event.

Btw, I think ISRO is very confident, the roads leading to ISRO are getting a hurried make over for PM Modi's visit.

minor trajectory correction was perform

 

[astra-2016]

maja aa gaya aaj to ab bas 24th sep ka intejaar hai. jab Mars ki HD pic MoM bejega tabhi kaleje ko
tand padegi,

 

[ptltejas]

The test firing must have completed. We'll get a confirmation after the communication delay of 12 minutes.

MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK BY ISRO

 

[indiatester]

I'm not sure there is any real trajectory connection that needed to be done with a firing of less than 4 seconds. It was just a warming up before the main event.

Btw, I think ISRO is very confident, the roads leading to ISRO are getting a hurried make over for PM Modi's visit.

In Bangalore? Which ISRO office?

 

[ptltejas]

I'm not sure there is any real trajectory connection that needed to be done with a firing of less than 4 seconds. It was just a warming up before the main event.

Btw, I think ISRO is very confident, the roads leading to ISRO are getting a hurried make over for PM Modi's visit.

Its Right its Just Engine Test, to satisfy final starting on 24th sep.[/quote]

ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission - Bangalore, India - Government Organization | Facebook

 

[danger007]

fingers crossed...

 

[Indian_Devil]

Aaj ka din MANGALmay ho gaya.... swaha...

 

[bitter_but_better]

It will be nice to see a patriotic ****'s comment on 24th sep..
Because i am damn sure it is going to be a successful mission.

 

[halupridol]

2 more days to go

 

[Bang Galore]

In Bangalore? Which ISRO office?

Peenya

 

[HariPrasad]

Liquid Motor successfully fired for 4 second. Major Hurdle is overcome.

Mangalyaan engine test-fire successful, all set for Mars now
Vanita Srivastava, Hindustan Times New Delhi, September 21, 2014

First Published: 10:37 IST(21/9/2014) | Last Updated: 14:54 IST(22/9/2014)

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With less than 48 hours left before the spacecraft enters Mars’ orbit, scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) have successfully test-fired its liquid engine.

Before the test-firing, Annadurai, programme director at Isro, told Hindustan Times: “The test firing is like a trial. The dormant engine has to be brought back to life. It is a challenge but if one is prepared well for the exam, the confidence for success is higher.”

The nail-biting prelim was carried out at 2:30pm when the craft’s 440 Newton Liquid Apogee Motor engine, which has been idle for 300 days, was fired up for four seconds. The fourth and final trajectory corrections were also made.



“The engine will be fired for nearly 4 seconds and almost half a kg of fuel will be needed for this operation,” says Koteshwar Rao, scientific secretary, Isro before the test-firing

On September 24 it will be put in action along with eight thrusters to slow down Mangalyaan so it can be injected into a safe orbit around the Red Planet.

Isro launched the Mangalyaan on November 5 to find evidence of life on Mars. If the spacecraft makes it, India will be the fourth after US, Russia and Europe to reach the Red planet. Once in orbit, the craft’s five payloads will take pictures and collect data for the next six months.

Probes to Mars have a high failure rate. Of the 51 missions so far, only 21 have succeeded. A similar mission by China failed in 2011.

 

[astra-2016]

Isro's scientists trajectory calculation considering the gravitation pull of multiple planets was so accurate that MOM did not required two TCMs.
aakhir Great Mathematician Aryabhata ke vanshaj jo hai hum log

 

[HariPrasad]

It will be nice to see a patriotic ****'s comment on 24th sep..
Because i am damn sure it is going to be a successful mission.

You Forget Chinese. Many of Pakistanis will congratulate but it will be very difficult for Chinese to digest.