PTI
Bengaluru, October 2
Indias Mars Orbiter craft has run out of propellant and its battery drained beyond the safe limit, fuelling speculation that the countrys maiden interplanetary mission Mangalyaan may have finally completed its long innings.
The Rs 450-crore Mars Orbiter Mission was launched onboard PSLV-C25 on November 5, 2013, and the MOM spacecraft was successfully inserted into Martian orbit on September 24, 2014 in its first attempt.
Right now, there is no fuel left. The satellite battery has drained, sources in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told PTI. The link has been lost.
There was, however, no official word from the countrys national space agency, headquartered here.
With fuel on board, ISRO had been performing orbital manoeuvres on MOM spacecraft to take it to a new orbit to avoid an impending eclipse in the past.
But recently there were back-to-back eclipses, including one that lasted seven-and-half hours, officials said on condition of anonymity, noting that all the propellant on board the ageing satellite had been consumed.
As the satellite battery is designed to handle eclipse duration of only about one hour and 40 minutes, a longer eclipse would drain the battery beyond the safe limit, another official said.
ISRO officials noted that the Mars orbiter craft functioned for almost eight years, well beyond its designed mission life of six months.
It has done its job and yielded significant scientific results, they said.
The objectives of the mission were primarily technological and included design, realisation and launch of a Mars Orbiter spacecraft capable of operating with sufficient autonomy during the journey phase; Mars orbit insertion/ capture and in-orbit phase around Mars.
The MOMa technology demonstration venturecarried five scientific payloads (total 15 kg) collecting data on surface geology, morphology, atmospheric processes, surface temperature and atmospheric escape process.
The five instruments are: Mars Color Camera (MCC), Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS), Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM), Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA) and Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP).
MOM is credited with many laurels like cost-effectiveness, short period of realisation, economical mass-budget, and miniaturisation of five heterogeneous science payloads, ISRO officials pointed out.
Highly elliptical orbit geometry of MOM enabled MCC to take snap shots of Full disc of Mars at its farthest point and finer details from closest point.
The MCC has produced more than 1000 images and published a Mars Atlas.
Meanwhile, plans on a follow-on Mangalyaan mission to the red planet, however, are yet to be firmed up.
ISRO came out with an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for future Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM-2) in 2016 but officials acknowledged that its still on the drawing board, with the coming Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya - L1 projects being in the space agencys current priority list.
The AO had said: It is now planned to have the next orbiter mission around Mars for a future launch opportunity. Proposals are solicited from interested scientists within India for experiments onboard an orbiter mission around Mars (MOM-2), to address relevant scientific problems and topics. Not in the approved list as of now, a senior ISRO official told PTI on being asked about an update on the MOM-2.
We need to formulate the project proposals and payloads based on the wider consultation with the research community, the official said. Its still on the drawing board. But needs some more details and international collaboration for finalising the mission.
Originally posted here:
- Two new books explore Mars and what it means to be human - Science News [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- The United Arab Emirates' Hope mission to Mars in photos - Space.com [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Why mastering the Moon is vital before missions to Mars - Flightglobal [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- What will astronauts need to survive the dangerous journey to Mars? - Science News [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Perseverance: the new mission to Mars | News - The Guardian [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- 3 Countries Are Scheduled To Send Spacecraft To Mars This Summer - NPR [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Mars Mission From United Arab Emirates Embarks on 7-Month Journey - The New York Times [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- NASA's Mars Rover Drivers Need Your Help NASAs Mars ... [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Mars Facts: Life, Water and Robots on the Red Planet | Space [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Mars Facts - Interesting Facts about Planet Mars [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Overview | Mars NASA Solar System Exploration [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- NASAs Mars Exploration Program [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Mars Petcare India appoints Pitchfork Partners as their strategic communication consultant - The Financial Express [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- UAE's Mars probe has covered 20% of its journey in a month - Khaleej Times [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- Planetwide Storms May Have Filled Lakes, Rivers on Ancient Mars - Astrobiology Magazine [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- Ancient Mars Had Planet-Wide Rainstorms So Intense They Breached Its Lakes - ScienceAlert [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- Follow NASAs Perseverance rover in real time as it heads toward Mars - Digital Trends [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- Massive lava tubes on the moon and Mars could be used by astronauts - CNN [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- No, Mars Wont Be As Big As The Moon On August 27. Heres When And Where To See Them Together - Forbes [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- This Mars helicopter will be the first ever to fly on another planet - The Next Web [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- Bacteria could survive the trip to Mars in the form of thick aggregates - UPI News [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- It Rained So Hard on Ancient Mars that Craters Filled Up and Overflowed - Universe Today [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- Follow NASA's Perseverance Rover in Real Time on Its Way to Mars - NASA Mars Exploration [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- Yes, The First Humans On Mars Should Consider Becoming Cave-Dwellers - Forbes [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- China's Mars mission tests instruments on its way to the Red Planet - Space.com [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- Mars Will Make Its Closest Appearance Since 2018 Next Month - Sarasota [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2020]
- Frazetta's 'The Princess Of Mars' Leads Heritage Auctions' Comics & Comic Art Sale - Antiques and the Arts Online [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2020]
- The Expanse Season 5: Earth, Mars or Belters - Who the Real Villain Is - Screen Rant [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2020]
- JAXA's MMX mission will capture Mars and its moons in 8K - New Atlas [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2020]
- 'Like a scene from Mars': Skies in parts of California turn orange as wildfires rage - NBC News [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2020]
- Mars hires former IFT chief science and technology officer as new head of R&D - FoodNavigator-USA.com [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2020]
- Here is your 2020 Mars observation guide for Arizona - KTAR.com [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2020]
- Jersey Skies: Viewing the 'dusky' details of Mars as it makes close approach to Earth - Jersey's Best [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2020]
- 8K views of Mars on the menu for Martian moon mission spacecraft - CNET [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2020]
- Would becoming one of the first people to settle Mars be worth dying for? | TheHill - The Hill [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2020]
- Prominent attorney Tom Mars weighs in on whether Big Ten players who signed with agents can opt back in for 2020 - Saturday Down South [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- An inside look at how Mars Wrigley is working to save Halloween - Candy Industry [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Le Mars, IA police officer dismissed after investigation of social media posts - KTIV [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Mars is a planet to watch over the next month; Heres why - MLive.com [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Forget Mars, NASA considers a mission to Venus - The Indian Express [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Turning the Red Planet green: How we'll grow crops on Mars - BBC Focus Magazine [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Mars travelers could use this Earthly fiber to build on Mars - BGR [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Sols 2885-2886: Once More With MTBSTFA NASA's Mars Exploration Program - NASA Mars Exploration [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- We won't live on Mars any time soon despite what people like Elon Musk might try and tell us - iNews [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- NASA Mars rover runs first-of-its-kind experiment seeking clues to ancient life - CNET [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- This is how we should build on Mars, scientists say - CNN [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Mars Express Finds Even More Ponds of Water Under the Ground on Mars - Universe Today [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- The Mars Inn, Loftus, to be sold at auction - The Northern Echo [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- Is There a Painted Desert on Mars? - SETI Institute [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- The TOZ-81 'Mars' Gun Was The Soviet Union's Ultimate Space Revolver - The Drive [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- 300000 Young People Explore STEM Through A "Mission to Mars" In the 2020 4-H STEM Challenge - PRNewswire [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- Sols 2901-2903: Warts and All! - NASA Mars Exploration [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- Photos of fiery Mars, nearly at its best in 2 years - EarthSky [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- ExoMars 2022: The Way Forward to Mars - SciTechDaily [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- NASA Looks to Use 3D Printing Construction for Future Infrastructure on Mars and the Moon - SpaceCoastDaily.com [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- Buried lakes of salty water on Mars may provide conditions for life - The Conversation AU [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- Venus May Have Phosphine, But Mars Has Lakes Of LIQUID Water - Astrobites [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- A better way to search for traces of life on Mars and beyond! (op-ed) - Space.com [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- You don't want to miss Mars shining bright this fall - Space.com [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- Can We Still Go to Mars? - The Atlantic [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- Don't miss Mars and the nearly full moon huddling together in tonight's sky - Space.com [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- You can track NASA's 2020 Mars rover Perseverance on its journey to the Red Planet - Space.com [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2020]
- Mars reveals progress on its Cocoa For Generations billion-dollar cocoa sustainability plans - Confectionery Production [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- This Just In From The Mars News Channel... 10/30/2020 - MediaPost Communications [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- Elon Musks SpaceX will make its own laws on Mars - The Independent [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- Emirates Mars Mission kicks off 'Hope Generation' initiative to inspire a new generation of engineers - WAM EN [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- J-Pop Titans Arashi on Going Global, Working With Bruno Mars, and Upcoming Hiatus - Variety [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- Astronomy: The Red Planet: Mars - RTL Today [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- Scientists discover Mars-sized rogue planet aimlessly zooming through the Milky Way - CBS News [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- Scientists discover evidence of water on Mars 4.4 billion years ago - Mirror Online [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- Who can own property on the moon and mars? - The New Indian Express [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- A mission to 'Mars' at the HI-SEAS habitat: Live updates - Space.com [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- Whats the bright star next to the moon tonight? Its Mars - Deseret News [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- Water was formed 4.4 billion years ago on Mars - The Tribune [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- Space.com is going to 'Mars' on a HI-SEAS habitat simulation - Space.com [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- Life-hunting Perseverance rover is halfway to Mars - EarthSky [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2020]
- Drive-In movie kicks of Hometown Christmas weekend in Le Mars, IA - KTIV [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Fans Question Bruno Mars about Where He Had Been after He Trolls Artists over Grammy Snubs - AmoMama [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- Elusive Internal Structure of Mars Revealed by Ancient Zircon Minerals From the Red Planet - SciTechDaily [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]
- A Beaver Moon Eclipse Meets Mars And The Seven Sister Stars: What You Can See In The Night Sky This Week - Forbes [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2020]