India's Mars Mission: first look

[IndoCarib]

The first images of India's small satellite for the red planet, Mars, have finally been released.

If all goes well with the launch and the very risky and arduous, millions of kilometres long journey, India may rendezvous with the red planet. The mission will cost in the range of 600 crores.

In a few weeks, the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO plans to launch a Nano car-sized unmanned satellite that will orbit Mars and study the planet's thin atmosphere. Since Mars is the nearest planet to Earth, if ever humans have to colonise it, the first and most necessary step is to understand the atmosphere and air around it.

The 'Mars craft' was unveiled today at the place it was born, the ISRO satellite facility in Bangalore. It could lift off within a few weeks from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

It will take a year for the satellite to reach Mars, after which it is expected to orbit around the planet for at least six months.

K Radhakrishnan, chairman of ISRO, says the satellite, named Mangalyaan, will carry five scientific instruments which will hunt the Mars atmosphere for traces of water and Methane which could indicate if life exists there. Colour photos will be sent back regularly.

While seeking clearance from the government for its Mission to Mars, ISRO had said that it hopes to look at 'whether Mars has a biosphere or even an environment in which life could have evolved'. Experts suggest this is a tough question to answer through a tiny orbiting mission.

On Independence Day last year, in his speech to the country, the Prime Minister had formally announced that "Our spaceship will go near Mars and collect important scientific information. This spaceship to Mars will be a huge step for us in the area of science and technology."

In 2008, India successfully launched its maiden mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-1, which brought back the first clinching evidence of the presence of water on the parched lunar surface. Some say India's plans to explore Mars denote an ambition to beat rival China to it.

"We are not racing with anybody and the Indian mars mission has its own relevance", said Mr Radhakrishnan, but he admitted there is an element of 'national pride' involved with the mission.

India's Mars Mission: first look at the satellite that will orbit the planet | NDTV.com

 

[Truth Finder]

Great!!!

 

[Ayush]

nice pics

 

[Parul]

Best of Luck to ISRO

 

[DoTell]

Wow, India is not just sending something to Mars, you guys are sending a car sized satellite

Congratulations and wish you complete success!

The article mentioned India's intention of "beating China" to it but was denied by ISRO chairman. Maybe the reporter him/her self and laymen like us want to think that way. But I really don't believe the two countries are in a race in space programs. We are simply taking different paths. China's main goal in the near term is to establish a space station, then explore the moon. Such a goal is relatively easier to accomplish and has great potential practical benifits such as utilzing the resources on the moon. India's aim seems to be bigger and futher. Not only the moon, but exploring mars is in scope as well.

It's interesting that the two countries' economic growth follow very different paths as well. China started by trying to industrialize itself and take on the manufacturing jobs of the world. India never seems to wanted to take that low, hard approach. They go right into developing its serivce industry. While China's approach achieved a sustained high growth, the collateral damage on the environment and people is tremendous. India's development is cleaner, quicker but its economy is more dependent on international environment, especially the financial market. But if India succeeded, it will be the first country in human history that transformed itself to advanced economy without having to go through industrialization. We shall see.

 

[[Bregs]]

All the best to ISRO

 

[IndoCarib]

Wow, India is not just sending something to Mars, you guys are sending a car sized satellite

Congratulations and wish you complete success!

The article mentioned India's intention of "beating China" to it but was denied by ISRO chairman. Maybe the reporter him/her self and laymen like us want to think that way. But I really don't believe the two countries are in a race in space programs. We are simply taking different paths. China's main goal in the near term is to establish a space station, then explore the moon. Such a goal is relatively easier to accomplish and has great potential practical benifits such as utilzing the resources on the moon. India's aim seems to be bigger and futher. Not only the moon, but exploring mars is in scope as well.

It's interesting that the two countries' economic growth follow very different paths as well. China started by trying to industrialize itself and take on the manufacturing jobs of the world. India never seems to wanted to take that low, hard approach. They go right into developing its serivce industry. While China's approach achieved a sustained high growth, the collateral damage on the environment and people is tremendous. India's development is cleaner, quicker but its economy is more dependent on international environment, especially the financial market. But if India succeeded, it will be the first country in human history that transformed itself to advanced economy without having to go through industrialization. We shall see.

India and China's paths are different. Though the ultimate destination may be same. China will leapfrog and reach there first. India will crawl to finish the journey.

 

[Shardul.....the lion]

All the best ISRO... may you reach sooner than later...... no dates mentioned..

 

[livingdead]

Wow, India is not just sending something to Mars, you guys are sending a car sized satellite

Congratulations and wish you complete success!

The article mentioned India's intention of "beating China" to it but was denied by ISRO chairman. Maybe the reporter him/her self and laymen like us want to think that way. But I really don't believe the two countries are in a race in space programs. We are simply taking different paths. China's main goal in the near term is to establish a space station, then explore the moon. Such a goal is relatively easier to accomplish and has great potential practical benifits such as utilzing the resources on the moon. India's aim seems to be bigger and futher. Not only the moon, but exploring mars is in scope as well.

It's interesting that the two countries' economic growth follow very different paths as well. China started by trying to industrialize itself and take on the manufacturing jobs of the world. India never seems to wanted to take that low, hard approach. They go right into developing its serivce industry. While China's approach achieved a sustained high growth, the collateral damage on the environment and people is tremendous. India's development is cleaner, quicker but its economy is more dependent on international environment, especially the financial market. But if India succeeded, it will be the first country in human history that transformed itself to advanced economy without having to go through industrialization. We shall see.

it appears china will reach there by sprinting and India by crawling..

 

[Fireurimagination]

Go ISRO Go

 

[Shardul.....the lion]

Wow, India is not just sending something to Mars, you guys are sending a car sized satellite

Congratulations and wish you complete success!

The article mentioned India's intention of "beating China" to it but was denied by ISRO chairman. Maybe the reporter him/her self and laymen like us want to think that way. But I really don't believe the two countries are in a race in space programs. We are simply taking different paths. China's main goal in the near term is to establish a space station, then explore the moon. Such a goal is relatively easier to accomplish and has great potential practical benifits such as utilzing the resources on the moon. India's aim seems to be bigger and futher. Not only the moon, but exploring mars is in scope as well.

It's interesting that the two countries' economic growth follow very different paths as well. China started by trying to industrialize itself and take on the manufacturing jobs of the world. India never seems to wanted to take that low, hard approach. They go right into developing its serivce industry. While China's approach achieved a sustained high growth, the collateral damage on the environment and people is tremendous. India's development is cleaner, quicker but its economy is more dependent on international environment, especially the financial market. But if India succeeded, it will be the first country in human history that transformed itself to advanced economy without having to go through industrialization. We shall see.

welcome to forum...

we admire your path towards empowering your people economically...

Rise of China gives us hope that even India can do better things and develop itself.....

 

[Srinivas]

ISRO said "WE MEAN BUSINESS" when questioned about the mission and its objectives, Surely they have big plans for mars and Extra terrestrial research.

All the Best ISRO

@isro2222 your views buddy!

 

[acetophenol]

All the best ISRO... may you reach sooner than later...... no dates mentioned..

The date is important buddy,I was lucky enough to see the orbiter in close at Bengaluru. There the guys told us that,if they miss the current launch date,they won't be able to achieve it until 2018 or something,it has to do something with the orbital orientations of both the planets and their magnetic fields.

 

[Audio]

On what rocket will it fly?

 

[anonymus]

On what rocket will it fly?

PSLV.............