MANGALYAN MISSION
1. Context
Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marked a significant milestone by successfully executing a soft landing with Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar south pole.
This accomplishment highlighted India's growing prowess in space exploration, reminiscent of a similar leap taken exactly nine years ago with the successful entry of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), fondly known as Mangalyaan, into orbit around the Red Planet.
2. ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission
- Mangalyaan's entry into orbit around Mars was an unprecedented achievement for ISRO.
- Before ISRO's endeavour, no other space agency had successfully orbited Mars on its maiden attempt.
- This accomplishment placed ISRO in an exclusive league, alongside NASA, ROSCOSMOS, and the European Space Agency.
- Remarkably, ISRO achieved this feat at a fraction of the cost, with a budget of just Rs 450 crore (approximately $73 million), which was $25 million less than the budget for the 2015 movie "The Martian," starring Matt Damon.
- Initially planned for a mission duration of only six months, the Mars Orbiter Mission exceeded expectations by remaining in contact with Earth until April 2022.
- Unfortunately, communications were eventually lost, likely due to the exhaustion of fuel resources.
3. The Genesis of Mangalyaan
- Inspired by the success of Chandrayaan-1, ISRO set its sights on Mars, a planet of immense interest to scientists and astronomers worldwide.
- The Mars Mission Study Team was formed in August 2010, led by Chairman K Radhakrishnan, to devise a feasible blueprint for a mission to the Red Planet.
- Various mission types were considered, including fly-bys, orbiters, lander-rovers, and even unconventional methods like balloons, airplanes, sub-surface explorers, and sample return missions.
Image Source: Kalam centre4. Choosing the Orbiter Mission
- Ultimately, ISRO opted for an orbiter mission, designed to be launched aboard the reliable PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle).
- This decision was motivated by the limitations of available launch systems for lander or rover missions.
- The Mars Mission Study Team's report, detailing the mission's specifics, was submitted in June 2011, and the mission was officially announced by then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 15, 2012.
5. The Challenges of Mangalyaan
- The Mars Orbiter Mission faced a formidable challenge a narrow launch window between November 2013 and January 2014.
- Missing this window would have necessitated waiting until 2016 or 2018 for a more fuel-efficient Hohmann transfer orbit.
- ISRO's decision to choose the 2013 opportunity was primarily based on its potential for substantial fuel savings.
- Moreover, the mission's 300-day journey to Mars presented a unique hurdle: the spacecraft would be out of real-time contact with ISRO scientists.
- Consequently, the craft needed to possess onboard autonomy for critical operations.
6. Successful launch of Mangalyaan
- Despite these challenges, ISRO completed the Mangalyaan mission in a record 15 months.
- A contributing factor was the use of a reconfigured lunar orbiter originally prepared for the Chandrayaan mission.
- The launch took place on November 5, 2013, after a brief delay due to unfavourable weather conditions.
- After a 298-day transit, Mangalyaan successfully entered Mars orbit on September 24, 2014.
- Mangalyaan's primary mission was to demonstrate technological capabilities, including Earth-bound manoeuvres, a lengthy cruise phase, Mars orbit insertion/capture, and deep space communication.
- Remarkably, it fulfilled these objectives while also conducting scientific research on the Martian surface and atmosphere, capturing stunning images of the Red Planet.
7. Preparing for Mangalyaan-2
- Mangalyaan captured the world's imagination and positioned ISRO as a global space powerhouse.
- While it was a monumental achievement in its own right, MOM laid the foundation for more complex and ambitious interplanetary missions by ISRO.
- As ISRO prepares for the launch of Mangalyaan-2 in the coming year, the legacy of Mangalyaan continues to inspire and drive India's aspirations in the field of space exploration.
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For Prelims: Indian Space Research Organisation, Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan, Red Planet, Chandrayaan, NASA, ROSCOSMOS, the European Space Agency, Moon Impact Probe, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle,
For Mains:
The Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) achieved significant global recognition and success. Discuss the factors that contributed to India's remarkable achievement in Mars exploration and its impact on the country's space ambitions. (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. Which of the following is the name of the NASA programme to land first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024? (SSC MTS 2021)
A. Orion B. Apollo C. Artemis D. Nike
Answer: C
2. Satish Dhawan Space Centre is located at (MP Police Constable 2017)
A. Thiruvananthapuram B. Sriharikota C. Narendrapuri D. Mahendragiri
Answer: B
3. Sriharikota, where Satish Dhawan Space Centre is located, is situated next to which lake? (Haryana Civil Services 2021)
A. Chilika B. Pulicat C. Vembanad D. Kolar
Answer: B
4. “The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to (UPSC 2020)
A. Voyager-2 B. New Horizons C. LISA Pathfinder D. Evolved LISA
Answer: D
5. ISRO is related to: (SSC JE EE 2020)
A. space research B. agricultural research C. seed research D. marine research
Answer: A
6. Consider the following statements: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO (UPSC 2016)
1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after the USA
3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
7. India's Mars Orbiter Mission is likely to be launched in November 2013. What kind of rocket will be used by ISRO for this mission. (IB ACIO Grade II 2012)
A. Geo Synchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
B. Agni III
C. Extended polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
D. SLV - III
Answer: C
8. Which planet is called 'Red Planet' ? (SUPER TET 2018) (DSSSB JE E&M 2014)
A. Pluto B. Venus C. Jupiter D. Mars
Answer: D
9. Chandrayaan -1, India's first mission to the Moon was launched from __________. (SSC CPO 2019)
A. Srikalahasti B. Srikakulam C. Sriharikota D. Srisailam
Answer: C
10. Give the correct chronological sequence of the missions undertaken to Mars by the six countries or agencies given below: (MPSC 2014)
a. America
b. Russia
c. China
d. Japan
e. European Space Agency
f. Bharat
A. America, Russia, China, Japan, Bharat, European Space Agency.
B. Russia, America, Japan, European Space Agency, China, Bharat.
C. Russia, Japan, America, China, European Space Agency, Bharat.
D. America, Russia, Japan, China, European Space Agency, Bharat.
Answer: B
11. The European Space Agency (ESA) successfully landed a spacecraft on a speeding comet that lies 310 million miles away from Earth. As a result, the scientists may find out (NDA 2015)
A. the age of the sun
B. the age of the Universe
C. new fundamental atomic particles
D. the role of the comets in bringing organic matter and water to earth.
Answer: D
12. In the context of space technology, what is "Bhuvan", recently in the news? (UPSC 2010)
A. A mini satellite, launched by ISRO for promoting the distance education in India
B. The name given to the next Moon Impact Probe, for Chandrayan-II
C. A geoportal of ISRO with 3 D imaging capabilities of India
D. A space telescope developed by India
Answer: C
13. Comprehension
Directions:
Read the following passage and answer the questions accordingly.
Lunar water is water that is present on the Moon. It was first discovered by ISRO through its Chandrayaan mission. Diffuse water molecules can persist at the Moon's sunlit surface, as discovered by NASA's SOFIA observatory in 2020. Gradually water vapor is decomposed by sunlight, leaving hydrogen and oxygen lost to outer space. Scientists have found water ice in the cold, permanently shadowed craters at the Moon's poles. Water molecules are also in the extremely thin lunar atmosphere. Water (H2O), and the chemically related hydroxyl group (-OH), exist in forms chemically bound as hydrates and hydroxides to lunar minerals (rather than free water), and evidence strongly suggests that this is the case in low concentrations as for much of the Moon's surface. In fact, of surface matter, adsorbed water is calculated to exist at trace concentrations of 10 to 1000 parts per million. Inconclusive evidence of free water ice at the lunar poles had accumulated during the second half of the 20th century from a variety of observations suggesting the presence of bound hydrogen. On 18 August 1976, the Soviet Luna 24 probe landed at Mare Crisium, took samples from the depths of 118, 143, and 184 cm of the lunar regolith, and then took them to Earth. In February 1978, it was published that laboratory analysis of these samples shown they contained 0.1% water by mass. Spectral measurements showed minima near 3, 5, and 6 µm, distinctive valence-vibration bands for water molecules, with intensities two or three times larger than the noise level. On 24 September 2009, it was reported that the NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) spectrometer onboard India's ISRO Chandrayaan-1 probe had detected absorption features near 2.8–3.0 μm on the surface of the Moon. But about 10 months before, on 14 November 2008, India's made Moon Impact Probe onboard Chandrayaan-1 orbiter landed into Shackleton crater and confirmed the presence of water ice. For silicate bodies, such features are typically attributed to hydroxyl- and/or water-bearing materials. In August 2018, NASA confirmed that M3 showed water ice is present on the surface at the Moon poles. Water was confirmed to be on the sunlit surface of the Moon by ISRO on October 26, 2020. Water may have been delivered to the Moon over geological timescales by the regular bombardment of water-bearing comets, asteroids, and meteoroids or continuously produced in situ by the hydrogen ions (protons) of the solar wind impacting oxygen-bearing minerals. The search for the presence of lunar water has attracted considerable attention and motivated several recent lunar missions, largely because of water's usefulness in rendering long-term lunar habitation feasible. The presence of large quantities of water on the Moon would be an important factor in rendering lunar habitation cost-effective since transporting water (or hydrogen and oxygen) from Earth would be prohibitively expensive. If future investigations find the quantities to be particularly large, water ice could be mined to provide liquid water for drinking and plant propagation, and the water could also be split into hydrogen and oxygen by solar panel-equipped electric power stations or a nuclear generator, providing breathable oxygen as well as the components of rocket fuel. The hydrogen component of the water ice could also be used to draw out the oxides in the lunar soil and harvest even more oxygen.
According to the passage, what is theory behind the presence of water on the moon's surface? (NABARD Grade A 2021)
A. Water may have been delivered to the Moon over geological timescales by the regular bombardment of water-bearing comets, asteroids, and meteoroids
B. Water may have been delivered to the Moon over geological timescales by the regular bombardment of planets
C. Water may have been delivered to the Moon over geological timescales by the regular bombardment of spaceships
D. Water is stored within glasses or in voids between grains sheltered from the harsh lunar environment, thus allowing the water to remain on the lunar surface.
E. The surface of that crater is covered in glacier
Answer: A
14. With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2018)
1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four- staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 and 3 C. 1 and 2 D. 3 only
Answer: A
15. ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) successfully launched a remote sensing satellite of which country on 28th February 2021? (SSC CGL 2021)
A. Spain B. Brazil C. Mexico D. Cuba
Answer: B
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Source: The Indian Express
