Nilanjan
India has made remarkable strides in the field of space exploration and technology in the recent years. The country has successfully launched and operated two interplanetary missions: Mangalyaan, the Mars Orbiter Mission, and Chandrayaan, the lunar exploration mission. These missions have not only demonstrated India’s space capabilities, but also provided valuable scientific data and insights about the two celestial bodies.
Here, we will discuss the achievements and challenges of these two missions, and what they mean for India’s future space endeavours.
Mangalyaan: India’s First Mission to Mars
Mangalyaan, also known as the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), is India’s first interplanetary mission, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in November 2013. The mission had four main objectives:
- To explore Mars’ surface, morphology, and mineralogy
- To study the Martian atmosphere and its dynamics
- To test interplanetary mission technologies and demonstrate India’s space capabilities
- To develop the technologies required for interplanetary missions
The mission was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket. The spacecraft carried five scientific instruments to conduct various experiments and observations on Mars. The spacecraft entered Mars’ orbit in September 2014, after a journey of nearly 300 days and 670 million kilometres. The mission was initially planned for six months, but was extended several times due to the spacecraft’s good performance and health. The mission is still operational as of August 2021, making it one of the longest-running interplanetary missions.
The mission has achieved several milestones and accolades, such as:
- Mangalyaan became the first spacecraft to enter Mars’ orbit in its first attempt, making India the fourth country to reach Mars after the US, Russia, and the European Union.
- Mangalyaan became the cheapest interplanetary mission ever, with a total cost of around Rs 450 crore ($74 million), which is less than the budget of a Hollywood movie.
- Mangalyaan captured some stunning images and videos of Mars and its moons, Phobos and Deimos, providing us with a glimpse of the red planet.
- Mangalyaan detected traces of methane gas in the Martian atmosphere, which could indicate the possibility of life on Mars.
- Mangalyaan received several awards and recognitions, such as the Space Pioneer Award from the National Space Society, the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, and a place in the Guinness World Records.
One of the most remarkable achievements of Mangalyaan was capturing some breathtaking videos of Mars’ moon Phobos. Phobos is the larger and closer of the two moons of Mars, and has been a subject of interest for scientific study and potential exploration. The unique composition and characteristics of Phobos could provide insights into the formation and evolution of Mars.
In July 2020, ISRO released a video captured by Mangalyaan that showed Phobos moving across Mars’ surface. The video was created by combining 15 images taken by Mangalyaan at different intervals over a period of 35 minutes. The video showed Phobos’ irregular shape, craters, grooves, and dark patches. The video also showed how fast Phobos orbits Mars: it completes three orbits in a day.
The video was shared by Andrea Luck on X (formerly Twitter), who is an astrophysicist and a space enthusiast. She praised ISRO for its amazing achievement and thanked them for sharing it with the world. She also explained some facts about Phobos, such as its origin, size, distance from Mars, etc.
Here is her tweet with the video:
Andrea Luck @andrea_luck Wow! @isro has captured a video of Mars’ moon Phobos moving across the planet’s surface. Phobos is the larger and closer of the two moons and has been a subject of interest for scientific study. India’s Mars Orbiter Mission which is the country’s first interplanetary mission has captured these stunning images that provide us with a glimpse of Mars.
Some facts about Phobos:
- It is believed to be a captured asteroid that was pulled into Mars’ orbit by its gravity.
- It is about 22 km in diameter, which is smaller than the city of Delhi.
- It is about 6,000 km away from Mars, which is closer than the distance between Delhi and Mumbai.
- It is gradually spiraling towards Mars and will eventually break up or crash into the planet in about 50 million years.
Thank you @isro for this amazing video and for your incredible space achievements!
Chandrayaan: India’s Mission to the Moon
Chandrayaan, meaning “moon vehicle” in Sanskrit, is India’s lunar exploration mission, consisting of two phases: Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2. The mission had three main objectives:
- To map the lunar surface and study its geology and mineralogy
- To measure the lunar environment and its interaction with solar wind
- To test soft landing technologies and operate a rover on the lunar surface
Chandrayaan-1 was launched in October 2008 from Sriharikota, using a PSLV rocket. The spacecraft carried 11 scientific instruments from India and other countries to conduct various experiments and observations on the moon. The spacecraft entered the lunar orbit in November 2008, after a journey of 18 days. The spacecraft also released an impact probe that crashed into the lunar surface near the south pole, creating an artificial crater. The mission was planned for two years, but was terminated prematurely in August 2009 due to a loss of communication with the spacecraft.
The mission achieved several milestones and accolades, such as:
- Chandrayaan-1 became India’s first lunar mission and the first Indian spacecraft to leave Earth’s orbit.
- Chandrayaan-1 discovered evidence of water molecules on the lunar surface, which was confirmed by NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument on board the spacecraft.
- Chandrayaan-1 mapped more than 95% of the lunar surface with high resolution images and data.
- Chandrayaan-1 received several awards and recognitions, such as the International Lunar Exploration Working Group Award, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Space Systems Award, and a place in Time magazine’s Best Inventions of 2009.
Chandrayaan-2 was launched in July 2019 from Sriharikota, using a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket. The mission consisted of three components: an orbiter, a lander named Vikram, and a rover named Pragyan. The orbiter carried eight scientific instruments to conduct various experiments and observations on the moon. The lander carried three scientific instruments to measure seismic activity, temperature, and plasma on the lunar surface. The rover carried two scientific instruments to analyse the lunar soil and minerals. The mission aimed to land near the south pole of the moon, which is a region of scientific interest and exploration potential.
The mission faced several challenges and setbacks, such as:
- The launch was delayed by a week due to a technical snag in the rocket.
- The lander lost contact with the orbiter and the ground station during the final descent phase, and crashed on the lunar surface, failing to achieve a soft landing.
- The rover, which was housed inside the lander, could not be deployed and operated on the lunar surface.
- The orbiter, however, remained operational and continued to perform its scientific objectives. The orbiter also located the crash site of the lander and captured images of it.
The mission achieved some milestones and accolades, such as:
- Chandrayaan-2 became India’s second lunar mission and the first Indian mission to attempt a soft landing on the moon.
- Chandrayaan-2 became the first mission to explore the south pole region of the moon, which is considered to be rich in water ice and other resources.
- Chandrayaan-2 orbiter detected signatures of hydroxyl and water molecules on the sunlit side of the moon, which could indicate the presence of water in other forms on the lunar surface.
- Chandrayaan-2 orbiter also captured some high resolution images and data of the lunar surface, including craters, mountains, valleys, and plains.
Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan: India’s Space Achievements and Challenges
Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan are India’s two ambitious interplanetary missions that have showcased India’s space capabilities and scientific prowess. These missions have not only provided valuable scientific data and insights about Mars and the moon, but also inspired millions of Indians and people around the world. These missions have also enhanced India’s reputation as a space-faring nation and a global partner in space exploration.
However, these missions have also faced some challenges and difficulties, such as technical glitches, communication failures, budget constraints, and global competition. These challenges have highlighted the need for more investment, innovation, collaboration, and education in the field of space technology and science. India has to overcome these challenges and learn from its experiences to achieve its future space goals.
India has already announced its plans for more interplanetary missions, such as Mangalyaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya (solar mission), Shukrayaan (Venus mission), Gaganyaan (human spaceflight mission), etc. These missions will require more advanced technologies, skilled manpower, international cooperation, and public awareness. India has to prepare itself for these missions and ensure their success.
India has a long way to go in the field of space exploration and technology, but it has also come a long way from its humble beginnings. India has proved its potential and passion for space with Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan. India has to continue its journey with more determination and dedication. India has to reach for the stars with Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan.
