Mars Orbiter Mission

This article is about the Indian Mars probe. For other Mars orbiters, see List of missions to
Mars.

Mars Orbiter Mission

Artist's rendering of the MOM orbiting Mars

Mission type

Mars orbiter

Operator

ISRO

COSPAR ID

2013-060A

SATCAT

39370

Website

www.isro.org/mars/home.aspx

Mission duration

6 months (planned)[1]

Spacecraft properties

Bus

I-1K[2]

Manufacturer

ISAC

Launch mass

1,337 kg (2,948 lb)[3]

Dry mass

500 kg (1,100 lb)

Payload mass

15 kg (33 lb)[4]

Dimensions

1.5-metre (4 ft 11 in) cube

Power

840 watts[2]

Start of mission

Launch date

5 November 2013, 09:08 UTC[5]

Rocket

PSLV-XL C25[6]

Launch site

Satish Dhawan FLP

Contractor

ISRO

Orbital parameters

Reference system

Areocentric

Periareon

421.7 km (262.0 mi)[7]

Apoareon

76,993.6 km (47,841.6 mi)[7]

Inclination

150.0 [7]

Period

72 hours 51 minutes 51 seconds[7]

Epoch

Planned

Mars orbiter

Orbital insertion

24 September 2014, 02:00 UTC

MSD 50027 06:27 AMT[8]

The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also called Mangalyaan ("Mars-craft" from Sanskrit
mangala, "Mars" and
yna, "craft, vehicle"),[9][10] is a spacecraft orbiting Mars since 24
September 2014. It was launched on 5 November 2013 by the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) [11][12][13][14]
The mission is a "technology demonstrator" project to develop the technologies for design,
planning, management, and operations of an interplanetary mission.[15] It carries five instruments
that will help advance knowledge about Mars to achieve its secondary, scientific objective.[16]
The Mars Orbiter Mission probe lifted-off from the First Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space
Centre (Sriharikota Range SHAR), Andhra Pradesh, using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(PSLV) rocket C25 at 09:08 UTC (14:38 IST) on 5 November 2013.[17] The launch window was
approximately 20 days long and started on 28 October 2013.[5] The MOM probe spent about a
month in geocentric, low-Earth orbit, where it made a series of seven altitude-raising orbital
manoeuvres before trans-Mars injection on 30 November 2013 (UTC).[18] After a 298-day transit
to Mars, it was successfully inserted into Mars orbit on 24 September 2014.
It is India's first interplanetary mission[19] and ISRO has become the fourth space agency to reach
Mars, after the Soviet space program, NASA, and the European Space Agency.[20][21] It is also the
first nation to reach Mars orbit on its first attempt, and the first Asian nation to do so.[22][23][24][25]
The spacecraft is currently being monitored from the Spacecraft Control Centre at ISRO
Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bangalore with support from Indian
Deep Space Network (IDSN) antennae at Byalalu.[26]

Contents
[hide]

1 History
o 1.1 Cost
2 Objectives
3 Spacecraft specifications
4 Payload
5 Telemetry and command
o 5.1 Communications
6 Mission profile

o
o
o
o
o

6.1 Launch
6.2 Orbit raising manoeuvres
6.3 Trans-Mars injection
6.4 Trajectory correction manoeuvres
6.5 Mars orbit insertion
7 Status
8 Follow-up mission
9 See also
10 References
11 External links

History[edit]
The MOM mission concept began with a feasibility study in 2010, after the launch of lunar
satellite Chandrayaan-1 in 2008. The government of India approved the project on 3 August
2012,[27] after the Indian Space Research Organisation completed 125 crore (US$20 million) of
required studies for the orbiter.[28] The total project cost may be up to 454 crore
(US$74 million).[11][29] The satellite costs 153 crore (US$25 million) and the rest of the budget
has been attributed to ground stations and relay upgrades that will be used for other ISRO
projects.[30]
The space agency had planned the launch on 28 October 2013 but was postponed to 5 November
2013 following the delay in ISRO's spacecraft tracking ships to take up pre-determined positions
due to poor weather in the Pacific Ocean.[5] Launch opportunities for a fuel-saving Hohmann
transfer orbit occur every 26 months, in this case, 2016 and 2018.[31] The Mars Orbiter's on-orbit
mission life is six-to-ten months.
Assembly of the PSLV-XL launch vehicle, designated C25, started on 5 August 2013.[32] The
mounting of the five scientific instruments was completed at ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore,
and the finished spacecraft was shipped to Sriharikota on 2 October 2013 for integration to the
PSLV-XL launch vehicle.[32] The satellite's development was fast-tracked and completed in a
record 15 months.[33] Despite the US federal government shutdown, NASA reaffirmed on 5
October 2013 it would provide communications and navigation support to the mission.[34] During
a meeting in 30 September 2014, NASA and ISRO officials signed an agreement to establish a
pathway for future joint missions to explore Mars. One of the working group's objectives will be
to explore potential coordinated observations and science analysis between MAVEN orbiter and
MOM, as well as other current and future Mars missions.[35]

Cost[edit]
The total cost of the mission was approximately 450 Crore (US$73 million),[36][37] making it the
least-expensive Mars mission to date.[38] The low cost of the mission was ascribed by K.
Radhakrishnan, the chairman of ISRO, to various factors, including a "modular approach", a
small number of ground tests and long (18-20 hour) working days for scientists.[39] BBC's
Jonathan Amos mentioned lower worker costs, home-grown technologies, simpler design, and
significantly less complicated payload than NASA's MAVEN.[16] An opinion piece in The Hindu

pointed out that the cost was equivalent to less than a single bus ride for each of India's
population of 1.2 billion.[40]

Objectives[edit]
The primary objective of the Mars Orbiter Mission is to showcase India's rocket launch systems,
spacecraft-building and operations capabilities.[41] Specifically, the primary objective is to
develop the technologies required for design, planning, management and operations of an
interplanetary mission, comprising the following major tasks:[15]

design and realisation of a Mars orbiter with a capability to perform Earth-bound

maneuvres, cruise phase of 300 days, Mars orbit insertion / capture, and on-orbit phase
around Mars;
deep-space communication, navigation, mission planning and management;
incorporate autonomous features to handle contingency situations.

The secondary objective is to explore Mars' surface features, morphology, mineralogy and
Martian atmosphere using indigenous scientific instruments.[41]

Spacecraft specifications[edit]

Mass: The lift-off mass was 1,350 kg (2,980 lb), including 852 kg (1,878 lb) of
propellant.[2]
Bus: The spacecraft's bus is a modified I-1 K structure and propulsion hardware
configuration, similar to Chandrayaan 1, India's lunar orbiter that operated from 2008 to
2009, with specific improvements and upgrades needed for a Mars mission.[41] The
satellite structure is constructed of an aluminium and composite fibre reinforced plastic
(CFRP) sandwich construction.
Power: Electric power is generated by three solar array panels of 1.8 m 1.4 m (5 ft
11 in 4 ft 7 in) each (7.56 m2 (81.4 sq ft) total), for a maximum of 840 watts of power
generation in Mars orbit. Electricity is stored in a 36 Ah Li-ion battery.[2]
Propulsion: A liquid fuel engine with a thrust of 440 newtons is used for orbit raising
and insertion into Mars orbit. The orbiter also has eight 22-newton thrusters for attitude
control.[42] Its propellant mass is 852 kg.[2]

Payload[edit]
Scientific instruments
LAP
MSM

Lyman-Alpha Photometer
Methane Sensor for Mars

1.97 kg (4.3 lb)

2.94 kg (6.5 lb)

MENCA

Mars Exospheric Neutral

Composition Analyser

3.56 kg (7.8 lb)

TIS
MCC

Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer 3.20 kg (7.1 lb)

Mars Colour Camera
1.27 kg (2.8 lb)

The 15 kg (33 lb) scientific payload consists of five instruments:[4][43][44]

Atmospheric studies:
o Lyman-Alpha Photometer (LAP) a photometer that measures the relative
abundance of deuterium and hydrogen from Lyman-alpha emissions in the upper
atmosphere. Measuring the deuterium/hydrogen ratio will allow an estimation of
the amount of water loss to outer space.
o Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM) will measure methane in the atmosphere of
Mars, if any, and map its sources.[4]
Particle environment studies:
o Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA) is a quadrupole
mass analyser capable of analysing the neutral composition of particles in the
exosphere.
Surface imaging studies:
o Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS) will measure the temperature and
emissivity of the Martian surface, allowing for the mapping of surface
composition and mineralogy of Mars.
o Mars Colour Camera (MCC) will provide images in the visual spectrum,
providing context for the other instruments.

Telemetry and command[edit]

Further information: Telemetry and Telecommand
The Indian Space Research Organisation Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network
performed navigation and tracking operations for the launch with ground stations at Sriharikota,
Port Blair, Brunei and Biak in Indonesia,[45] and after the spacecraft's apogee became more than
100,000 km, an 18-metre (59 ft) and an 32 m (105 ft) diameter antenna of the Indian Deep Space
Network were utilised.[46] The 18-metre (59 ft) dish-antenna was used for communication with
the craft until April 2014, after which the larger 32 m (105 ft) antenna was used.[47] NASA's Deep
Space Network is providing position data through its three stations located in Canberra, Madrid
and Goldstone on the US West Coast during the non-visible period of ISRO's network.[48] The
South African National Space Agency's (SANSA) Hartebeesthoek (HBK) ground station is also
providing satellite tracking, telemetry and command services.[49]

Communications[edit]
Communications are handled by two 230-watt TWTAs and two coherent transponders. The
antenna array consists of a low-gain antenna, a medium-gain antenna and a high-gain antenna.
The high-gain antenna system is based on a single 2.2-metre (7 ft 3 in) reflector illuminated by a
feed at S-band. It is used to transmit and receive the telemetry, tracking, commanding and data to
and from the Indian Deep Space Network.[2]

Mission profile[edit]

Timeline of operations
Phase
Date
Event
Detail
Result
Reference(s)
5 November
Burn time:
Apogee:
[50]
2013 09:08
Launch
15:35 min in 5
23,550 km
UTC
stages
6 November
Apogee:
Orbit raising
Burn time: 416
2013 19:47
23,550 km to [51]
manoeuvre
sec
UTC
28,825 km
7 November
Apogee:
Orbit raising
Burn time:
2013 20:48
28,825 km to [52][53]
manoeuvre
570.6 sec
UTC
40,186 km
8 November
Apogee:
Orbit raising
Burn time: 707
2013 20:40
40,186 km to [52][54]
manoeuvre
sec
71,636 km
Geocentric UTC
phase
10 November
Apogee:
Orbit raising
Incomplete
2013 20:36
71,636 km to [55]
manoeuvre
burn
UTC
78,276 km
11 November Orbit raising
Apogee:
Burn time:
2013 23:33
manoeuvre
78,276 km to [52]
303.8 sec
UTC
(supplementary)
118,642 km
15 November
Apogee:
Orbit raising
Burn time:
2013 19:57
118,642 km to [52][56]
manoeuvre
243.5 sec
UTC
192,874 km
30 November
Successful
Trans-Mars
Burn time:
[57]
2013, 19:19
heliocentric
injection
1328.89 sec
UTC
insertion
En route to Mars The probe travelled a distance of
December 2013 780,000,000 kilometres (480,000,000 mi) in a
September
parabolic trajectory around the Sun to reach Mars.[47] [58][59][60][61][62]
2014
This phase plan included up to four trajectory
corrections if needed.
11 December
1st Trajectory
Burn time: 40.5
[52][60][61][62]
2013 01:00
Success
correction
sec
UTC
Heliocentric
Rescheduled
2nd Trajectory
phase
[63][59][62][64][65]
9 April 2014
Not required
for 11 June
correction (planned)
2014
11 June 2014 2nd Trajectory
Burn time: 16
[63][66]
Success
11:00 UTC
correction
sec
3rd Trajectory
Not
[59][62]
August 2014
correction (planned) required[63][67]
22 September 3rd Trajectory
Burn time: 4
[59][62][68]
Success
2014
correction
sec

Areocentric 24 September
phase
2014

Mars orbit insertion

Burn time:
1388.67 sec

Success

[7]

Launch[edit]
As originally conceived, ISRO would have launched MOM on its Geosynchronous Satellite
Launch Vehicle (GSLV),[69] but as the GSLV failed twice in 2010 and ISRO was continuing to
sort out issues with its cryogenic engine,[70] it was not advisable to wait for the new batch of
rockets as that would have delayed the MOM project for at least three years.[71] ISRO opted to
switch to the less-powerful Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). There is no way to launch on
a direct-to-Mars trajectory with the PSLV as it does not have the thrust required. Instead, ISRO
would first launch it into Earth orbit and slowly boost toward an interplanetary trajectory using
multiple perigee burns to maximize the Oberth effect.[69]
On 19 October 2013, ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan announced that the launch had to be
postponed by a week as a result of a delay of a crucial telemetry ship reaching Fiji. The launch
was rescheduled for 5 November 2013.[72] ISRO's PSLV-XL placed the satellite into Earth orbit
at 09:50 UTC on 5 November 2013,[28] with a perigee of 264.1 km (164.1 mi), an apogee of
23,903.6 km (14,853.0 mi), and inclination of 19.20 degrees,[50] with both the antenna and all
three sections of the solar panel arrays deployed.[73] During the first three orbit raising operations,
ISRO progressively tested the spacecraft systems.[56]
The orbiter's dry mass is 500 kg (1,100 lb), and it carries 852 kg (1,878 lb) of fuel and oxidiser.
Its main engine, which is a derivative of the system used on India's communications satellites,
uses the bipropellant combination monomethylhydrazine and dinitrogen tetroxide to achieve the
thrust necessary for escape velocity from Earth. It was also used to slow down the probe for
Mars orbit insertion and, subsequently, for orbit corrections.

Orbit raising manoeuvres[edit]

Orbit trajectory diagram (not to scale).

Several orbit raising operations were conducted from the Spacecraft Control Centre (SCC) at
ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Peenya, Bangalore on 6, 7, 8,
10, 12 and 16 November by using the spacecraft's on-board propulsion system and a series of
perigee burns. The aim was to gradually build up the necessary escape velocity of 11.2 km/s
(7.0 mi/s) to break free from Earth's gravitational pull while minimising propellant use. The first
three of the five planned orbit raising manoeuvres were completed with nominal results, while
the fourth was only partially successful. However, a subsequent supplementary manoeuvre raised
the orbit to the intended altitude aimed for in the original fourth manoeuvre. A total of six burns
were completed while the spacecraft remained in Earth orbit, with a seventh burn conducted on
30 November to insert MOM into a heliocentric orbit for its transit to Mars.
The first orbit-raising manoeuvre was performed on 6 November 2013 at 19:47 UTC when the
440 newtons (99 lbf) liquid engine of the spacecraft was fired for 416 seconds. With this engine
firing, the spacecraft's apogee was raised to 28,825 km (17,911 mi), with a perigee of 252 km
(157 mi).[51]
The second orbit raising manoeuvre was performed on 7 November 2013 at 20:48 UTC, with a
burn time of 570.6 seconds resulting in an apogee of 40,186 km (24,970 mi).[52][53]
The third orbit raising manoeuvre was performed on 8 November 2013 at 20:40 UTC, with a
burn time of 707 seconds resulting in an apogee of 71,636 km (44,513 mi).[52][54]
The fourth orbit raising manoeuvre, starting at 20:36 UTC on 10 November 2013, imparted an
incremental velocity of 35 m/s (110 ft/s) to the spacecraft instead of the planned 135 m/s
(440 ft/s) as a result of underburn by the motor.[55][74] Because of this, the apogee was boosted to
78,276 km (48,638 mi) instead of the planned 100,000 km (62,000 mi).[55] When testing the
redundancies built-in for the propulsion system, the flow to the liquid engine stopped, with

consequent reduction in incremental velocity. During the fourth orbit burn, the primary and
redundant coils of the solenoid flow control valve of 440 newton liquid engine and logic for
thrust augmentation by the attitude control thrusters were being tested. When both primary and
redundant coils were energised together during the planned modes, the flow to the liquid engine
stopped. Operating both the coils simultaneously is not possible for future operations, however
they could be operated independently of each other, in sequence.[56]
As a result of the fourth planned burn coming up short, an additional unscheduled burn was
performed on 12 November 2013 that increased the apogee to 118,642 km (73,721 mi),[52][56] a
slightly higher altitude than originally intended in the fourth manoeuvre.[52][75] The apogee was
raised to 192,874 km (119,846 mi) on 15 November 2013, 19:57 UTC in the final orbit raising
manoeuvre.[52][75]

Trans-Mars injection[edit]
Further information: Trans-Mars Injection
Simulated view of Mars Orbiter Mission along with (left to right) Mars, Earth, Mercury and Sun
on 3 October 2014 at 1700 UTC. The Mars Orbiter Mission satellite is at an altitude of about
1300 miles from Mars at the time
On 30 November 2013 at 19:19 UTC, a 23-minute engine firing initiated the transfer of MOM
away from Earth orbit and on heliocentric trajectory toward Mars.[76] The probe travelled a
distance of 780,000,000 kilometres (480,000,000 mi) to reach Mars.[77]

Trajectory correction manoeuvres[edit]

Four trajectory corrections were originally planned, but only three were carried out.[59] The first
trajectory correction manoeuvre (TCM) was carried out on 11 December 2013, 01:00 UTC, by
firing the 22 newtons (4.9 lbf) thrusters for a duration of 40.5 seconds.[52] As observed in April
2014, MOM is following the designed trajectory so closely that the trajectory correction
manoeuvre planned in April 2014 was not required. The second trajectory correction manoeuvre
was performed on 11 June 2014, at 16:30 hrs IST by firing the spacecraft's 22 newton thrusters
for a duration of 16 seconds.[78] The third planned trajectory correction manoeuvre was
postponed, due to the orbiter's trajectory closely matching the planned trajectory.[79] The third
trajectory correction was also a deceleration test 3.9 seconds long on 22 September 2014.[68]

Mars orbit insertion[edit]

The plan was for an insertion into Mars orbit on 24 September 2014,[8][80] approximately 2 days
after the arrival of NASA's MAVEN orbiter.[81] The 440N liquid apogee motor was successfully
test fired at 09:00 UTC (14:30 IST) on 22 September for 3.968 seconds, about 41 hours before
actual orbit insertion.[82][83][84]
On 24 September 2014, at IST 04:17:32 satellite communication changed over to the medium
gain antenna. At IST 06:56:32 forward rotation started and locked the position to fire, at IST
07:14:32 an attitude control manoeuvre took place with the help of thrusters after eclipse started

at IST 07:12:19 and LAM (Liquid Apogee Motor) started burning at IST 07:17:32 and ended at
IST 07:41:46. After that reverse manoeuvre took place, the spacecraft successfully entered
Martian orbit.[68][85][86]

Status[edit]
The orbit insertion put MOM in a highly elliptical orbit around Mars, with a period of 72 hours
51 minutes 51 seconds and a periapsis of 421.7 km (262.0 mi) and apoapsis of 76,993.6 km
(47,841.6 mi).[7] Commissioning and checkout operations are planned over the coming weeks to
prepare MOM's instruments for science operations.[1][87] At the end of the orbit insertion, MOM
was left with 40 kg (88 lb) of fuel as against the 20 kg (44 lb) that was thought necessary for the
six-month life span.[88]
On 28 September 2014, Mars Orbiter Mission published its first global view of Mars. The image
was captured by the Mars Colour Camera (MCC).[89]
On 19 October 2014, the ISRO reported that the Mars Orbiter Mission is healthy after the Comet
Siding Spring flyby of Mars earlier that day.[90]