Mangalyaan mission ends March 24, but spacecraft will remain operational

[third eye]

Mangalyaan — the country’s first spacecraft to Mars — will complete its six-month mission next week on March 24, but will remain operational even after its assignment duration expires.

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chairman Dr Kiran Kumar told HT the mission would technically end next week. “The spacecraft will remain operational even after that as there is no fuel constraint. This will help us delve deeper into the seasons and climate on Mars. We have been able to capture some beautiful images of Mars and have got ample data. Analysis of the data is being done and once this is final, it will be made public,” Kumar said.

On September 24 last year, India created history by becoming the first country to succeed on its first Mars mission when the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) slipped into the orbit of the Red Planet after a few nail-biting moments.

The country joined the United States, European Space Agency and the former Soviet Union in the elite club of Martian explorers with the MOM. The five payloads on the spacecraft were scheduled to carry out experiments for six months.

The Isro chief said a lot would depend on the blackout period for Mars in June. “The next challenge for the spacecraft will be in June next year when all three – Mars, Earth and Sun-will be in one line. There will be no communication (blackout period) with the spacecraft for nearly 14 days.”

The blackout would be experienced between June 8 and 22 as the Sun would come between Earth and Mars. During the blackout period, the spacecraft would be in fully autonomous mode and no data would be transmitted to or from it.

Isro is planning the launch of the fourth out of seven in the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) series of satellites after IRNSS-1A, IRNSS-1B and IRNSS-IC. The satellite would provide navigational services. The launch, earlier planned for March 9, had to be postponed after it was found that one of the telemetry transmitters was not working properly

 

[The_Sidewinder]

Will Mangalyaan keep sending ISRO pictures even after closer of the mission period???

 

[SQ8]

Will Mangalyaan keep sending ISRO pictures even after closer of the mission period???

If it has its batteries active, it can technically do that with ease. The Mission ending means that the goals ISRO set when the rocket with Mangalyaan took off are completed; doesn't mean the little machine is dead.

Although they are better off using it for a suicide atmospheric camera run on some spot that may have evaded all other missions.

 

[The_Sidewinder]

If it has its batteries active, it can technically do that with ease. The Mission ending means that the goals ISRO set when the rocket with Mangalyaan took off are completed; doesn't mean the little machine is dead.

Although they are better off using it for a suicide atmospheric camera run on some spot that may have evaded all other missions.

Thanks a lot sir.

 

[SrNair]

Mangalyaan. Our Proud

 

[HariPrasad]

Will Mangalyaan keep sending ISRO pictures even after closer of the mission period???

Yes
Fuel is very much there in spacecraft since spacecraft followed the predetermined trajectory perfectly saving a lots of fuel. Had one glitch not been there in orbit raising, spacecraft would have still longer life.

 

[K M Cariappa]

Read that since 42kg of fuel is available now as against the projected 20 kg , the mission is going to survive for a long time....

 

[HariPrasad]

Read that since 42kg of fuel is available now as against the projected 20 kg , the mission is going to survive for a long time....

Yes.

 

[JohnyD]

India's Mars mission, Mangalyaan, has spent more than 15 months in a highly elliptical orbit making scientific observations of Mars’ atmosphere, and the spacecraft is still “in fine health,” according to an ISRO official. The mission has cost India about 4.5 billion rupees ($66 million).

India is continuing to reel in images from the red planet from its Mangalyaan mission, which was launched in November 2013. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently signed a letter of intent to partner with the French Space Agency CNES on its next mission to Mars from 2018-20, which may involve a lander and rover.