If successful, India will be first country to reach Mars in maiden attempt: ISRO

As India’s Mars Orbiter is set to reach the red planet’s orbit by 24 September, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that India would be the first country to be successful in its maiden attempt to send a device to Mars.

“If successful on 24th, we will be the first country to be successful in the first maiden attempt (to go to Mars),” said K Koteshwar Rao, Scientific Secretary, ISRO. “India will be the 1st Asian country to go to Mars,” he added.

Rao further saidthat “entering Mars orbit is a crucial phase for us.” He also reiterated that ISRO had completed more than 95 percent of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM).

“MOM keeps sending us vital information about the health of its various modules and measurements from sensors. This is called Telemetry signal. Today’s telemetry confirms that MOM is in the pink of health,” Indian Space Research Organisation had said on Twitter on Saturday.

“MOM uses 2.2 m High Gain Antenna to send us signals from the present distance of 211 million kilometre”, it said.

ISRO said the spacecraft has completed 95 percent of its heliocentric journey towards Mars and was less than “four million kilometres” away from it.

Scientists would undertake a “challenging task” on 24 September when they would restart the on-board liquid engine, which has been in sleep mode for nearly ten months, for a critical manoeuvre of the spacecraft.

The Rs 450-crore project, named Mangalyaan, was launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on 5 November last year.

(With inputs from PTI)