File picture of the blast-off of the Mars mission from Sriharikota. The Mars Orbiter is currently travelling at 22 km/second, but once it reaches within 370km from the red planet, its speed will be reduced to 1.6 km/second by firing the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) of the spacecraft. Photo: AFP
New Delhi: Thirty days from now, Indian Space Research Organization's (Isro) first Mars mission will enter the red planet's orbit.
The Mars Orbiter, once inserted into the Martian orbit, aims to observe the physical features of Mars and conduct a limited study of the Martian atmosphere, according to the space research organization.
Launched on 5 November, aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C25) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the Mars Orbiter will complete its 300-day journey on 24 September.
According to an Isro spokesperson, one more correction manoeuvre is expected on 15 September. Then three days before 24 September, the final commands for the Mars Orbit insertion will be loaded, the spokesperson said.
The orbiter is currently travelling at 22 km/second, but once it reaches within 370km from the red planet, its speed will be reduced to 1.6 km/second by firing the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) of the spacecraft.
This way, it will be captured by the gravity of Mars.
"This part is a huge challenge as the Mars Orbiter will be trailing the red planet and will be hidden from the earth when the orbit insertion will take place. If the speed is not adjusted precisely, then either the Orbiter will crash on Mars or it will fly by and will be lost in space," said the spokesperson.
The last time the LAM aboard the Mars Orbiter was switched on was during the trans-Mars injection in December. A trans-correction manoeuvre was to take place earlier this month, but did not as the Mars Orbiter was on the right course.
via Science - Google News http://ift.tt/1skCOc8
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