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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...opes-mission-to-Mars/articleshow/54931990.cms
PUNE: In a historic achievement, the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) situated in Khodad, about 60 kilometres from Pune, detected very weak radio signals from a space probe sent to Mars by the European Space Agency (ESA). The GMRT was selected as the Earth-based observatory to provide ground support for the ESA's ExoMars mission, which aims to explore various properties of Mars, and also land a probe on the surface to explore technologies for the future.
It was a rather long recording, but the interesting part comes around the time marker (see image) where the GMRT signal is shown for the first time, prompting the Flight Director to identify it as the "signal from Pune". Yashwant Gupta, Dean, GMRT, said, "ESA had sent a mission to Mars called ExoMars mission six months ago. Now, on Wednesday, at around 8.30pm IST, the probelander will detach itself from the spacecraft and land on the surface of Mars. This is a very crucial time when the lander will go through Mars's atmosphere.A radio frequency transmitter will transmit waves and these waves will be the only means to find out the health of the lander. It has to be ensured that the lander, which will travel at a very high speed, doesn't overheat, and also lands without taking damage. The whole time GMRT will be observing, detecting and transmitting the waves received from the lander."
Hailing this as an exciting development, Somak RayChaudhury , director, InterUniversity Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, said, "The GMRT, run by the NCRA Centre of TIFR in Pune, is now a crucial contributor to the ExoMars mission of ESA. This is an exciting development in the history of one of the few truly international scientific facilities we have in India. We are all eagerly following the mission, and GMRT's role in it, as the story unfolds," he said.
PUNE: In a historic achievement, the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) situated in Khodad, about 60 kilometres from Pune, detected very weak radio signals from a space probe sent to Mars by the European Space Agency (ESA). The GMRT was selected as the Earth-based observatory to provide ground support for the ESA's ExoMars mission, which aims to explore various properties of Mars, and also land a probe on the surface to explore technologies for the future.
It was a rather long recording, but the interesting part comes around the time marker (see image) where the GMRT signal is shown for the first time, prompting the Flight Director to identify it as the "signal from Pune". Yashwant Gupta, Dean, GMRT, said, "ESA had sent a mission to Mars called ExoMars mission six months ago. Now, on Wednesday, at around 8.30pm IST, the probelander will detach itself from the spacecraft and land on the surface of Mars. This is a very crucial time when the lander will go through Mars's atmosphere.A radio frequency transmitter will transmit waves and these waves will be the only means to find out the health of the lander. It has to be ensured that the lander, which will travel at a very high speed, doesn't overheat, and also lands without taking damage. The whole time GMRT will be observing, detecting and transmitting the waves received from the lander."
Hailing this as an exciting development, Somak RayChaudhury , director, InterUniversity Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, said, "The GMRT, run by the NCRA Centre of TIFR in Pune, is now a crucial contributor to the ExoMars mission of ESA. This is an exciting development in the history of one of the few truly international scientific facilities we have in India. We are all eagerly following the mission, and GMRT's role in it, as the story unfolds," he said.
