Mangalyaan Mission

Mangalyaan 11th Anniversary: A Legacy That Propels India's Martian Ambitions Forward:

September 24, 2025 – This day marks a momentous occasion for India's space program: the 11th anniversary of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), or Mangalyaan, successfully entering the orbit of Mars. On this day in 2014, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a historic first, becoming the first nation in the world to reach the Red Planet's orbit on its maiden attempt. While the spacecraft's journey came to an end in 2022, its legacy continues to shape the future of India's interplanetary exploration."

A Mission That Redefined Possibilities

Mangalyaan was a true testament to ISRO's ingenuity. Built on a shoestring budget, it was a technology demonstrator that far surpassed its initial six-month mission life, operating for over eight years. The mission's success proved that ambitious space exploration could be both affordable and effective. It demonstrated ISRO's capability to design, launch, and operate an interplanetary mission, paving the way for more complex endeavors.

Here's a look at some key statistics that highlight Mangalyaan's remarkable journey:

• Launch Date: November 5, 2013
• Mars Orbit Insertion: September 24, 2014
• Total Mission Cost: Approximately ₹450 Crore (US$74 million), making it one of the most cost-effective interplanetary missions ever.
• Launch Vehicle: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL) C25
• Payload Mass: 15 kg of scientific instruments across five payloads.
• Initial Designed Mission Life: 6 months
• Actual Operational Life: Over 8 years (until April 2022), far exceeding its design life.
• Distance Travelled: Approximately 670 million kilometers to reach Mars.
• Scientific Instruments: Five payloads including a Mars Colour Camera (MCC), Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS), Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM), Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA), and a Lyman-Alpha Photometer (LAP).
• Images Captured: The Mars Colour Camera alone captured over 1,000 images of the Martian surface and atmosphere, contributing significantly to global Martian geological and atmospheric studies.

These impressive statistics underscore the mission's efficiency and ground breaking success, proving that complex space exploration can be both ambitious and affordable."

Looking Ahead: Mangalyaan 2 and Beyond

The success of Mangalyaan has fueled India's ambition for a more advanced and comprehensive mission to Mars. ISRO is now actively working on Mangalyaan 2, a follow-up mission that will be a significant leap forward in India's planetary exploration. 

Unlike its predecessor, which was a purely orbital mission, Mangalyaan 2 is planned to be a more complex project, potentially including a lander, a rover, and even a mini-helicopter. This would be a major technological leap, as a successful landing on Mars requires navigating the "seven minutes of terror"—a crucial, autonomous descent phase in the planet's thin atmosphere. 

Key features of Mangalyaan 2, as per ISRO's plans, include:

• Advanced Payloads: The mission is expected to carry a new suite of scientific instruments, including a high-resolution panchromatic camera, a hyperspectral camera, and a radar to study the Martian surface, atmosphere, and even its sub-surface geology.
• Aero-braking: The spacecraft will use the atmosphere of Mars to slow down and achieve a more stable, lower orbit, a technique known as aerobraking. This will allow for more detailed observations of the planet.
• Landing and Exploration: The inclusion of a lander and a rover would enable in-situ studies of the Martian surface, searching for signs of past water and potential for life. The proposed helicopter would offer a unique aerial perspective, helping to scout terrain and assist the rover.
• Launch Vehicle: Mangalyaan 2 is expected to be launched by the more powerful LVM3 rocket (formerly GSLV Mk III), which can place the heavier spacecraft on a direct trajectory to Mars.

While a firm launch date has not been announced, ISRO is moving forward with the project, which is a key part of its long-term strategy for deep space exploration. The development of the mission received approval from the Space Commission in February 2025, and work is expected to begin after final approval from the Union Cabinet.  As ISRO prepares for Mangalyaan 2, it is clear that India is not just content with reaching Mars—it is now determined to land on it, explore it, and contribute to the global quest for understanding our neighboring planet. The next decade promises to be an exciting chapter in India's space story, one that was written, in part, by a small but mighty spacecraft that made history eleven years ago.

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AUTHOR: Mrs. MEENAKSHI KANDWAL
Written On: 16.09.2025

About the Author: This article is written by Mrs. Meenakshi Kandwal, an accomplished writer and educator whose expertise spans both the world of words and the discipline of mathematics. She holds a Master's degree in Mathematics and a Bachelor's in Education.

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9/16/2025 1:54:53 AM