BackIndia’s Mars orbiter completes about 80% of journey
The spacecraft, which has covered more than 540 million kilometres so far, is scheduled to reach on 24 September
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Chennai: Inching closer to the red planet, India’s Mars orbiter spacecraft has covered more than 540 million kilometres, about 80% of journey, and is scheduled to reach on 24 September.
“Mars Orbit Mission and its payloads are in good health," Isro (Indian Space Research Organisation) said on its social networking site.
In the last crucial milestone, Isro performed a second trajectory correction manoeuvre on the spacecraft on 11 June by firing the spacecraft’s 22-newton thrusters for 16 seconds. Mid-course corrections are used to keep the spacecraft on course.
Another trajectory correction manoeuvre is planned for August before Isro performs the Mars Orbit Insertion in September. The Mars mission, part of a ₹ 450 crore project, was launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on-board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on 5 November 2013, aiming to reach Mars’ atmosphere by 24 September.
The project is expected to provide the scientific community better opportunities in planetary research.
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