PSLV-C25, the 25th flight of ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), successfully launched Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission – MOM) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This mission marked India’s first interplanetary expedition, making ISRO the fourth space agency in the world to reach Mars.
First Asian Nation to Reach Mars: India became the first country in Asia to successfully place a spacecraft in Martian orbit.
World’s First Successful Mars Mission in First Attempt: No other nation had succeeded in reaching Mars on their first try before India.
Most Cost-Effective Mars Mission: MOM was executed with a budget of ₹450 crore (about $74 million), making it the cheapest Mars mission ever.
Study the Martian Atmosphere: Analyze methane levels, a key indicator of potential life.
Examine Surface Features: Observe Martian geography, morphology, and mineralogy.
Capture High-Resolution Images: Provide detailed images of Mars for scientific research.
Test Indigenous Technology: Demonstrate India’s ability to conduct interplanetary missions independently.
Mission Timeline & Phases
Launch (5 Nov 2013): PSLV-C25 successfully placed MOM into Earth’s orbit.
Earth-Orbit Maneuvers (Nov-Dec 2013): A series of six orbital raises increased MOM’s velocity.
Trans-Mars Injection (30 Nov 2013): MOM was placed on a heliocentric (Sun-centered) path toward Mars.
Mars Orbit Insertion (24 Sep 2014): After 298 days of travel, MOM successfully entered Mars’ orbit, completing the mission’s most challenging phase.
Mars Color Camera (MCC): Captured stunning images of Mars and its two moons, Phobos & Deimos.
Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM): Searched for methane, an indicator of biological activity.
Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS): Mapped surface temperature variations.
Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP): Studied water loss from the Martian atmosphere.
Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyzer (MENCA): Measured exospheric neutral composition.
Global Recognition: MOM’s success positioned India as a major space power.
Inspiration for Future Missions: ISRO built on MOM’s success to develop Mangalyaan-2 and other deep-space missions like Chandrayaan-2 and Aditya-L1.
Encouraged Cost-Effective Space Exploration: Demonstrated how low-cost, high-impact missions could be achieved through innovation.
Extended Mission Life: Though originally planned for six months, MOM operated for over seven years until contact was lost in 2022.
Mangalyaan stands as a historic milestone in India’s space journey, showcasing scientific excellence, frugal engineering, and global leadership in space exploration. It remains a symbol of national pride and a testament to India’s ingenuity in space technology.
