Camera clicks away, methane hunt next

The spacecraft has a predicted life span of six months and scientists are confident that the tenure will be completed.

Over the next couple of weeks, ISRO will test and put to use the five scientific instruments it carried as a 15 kg payload on the spacecraft. A Mars Color Camera has already kicked into action, clicking images of the surface of Mars at 8.30 am shortly after the spacecraft was captured into orbit. Scientists said the first images were received at mission control by noon; the data is under process.

Detection of methane using a sensor is one of the key objectives of the mission. The spacecraft has achieved a favourable position, ISRO officials said: it is circling in an orbit whose nearest point to Mars is at 421.7 km and farthest at 76,993.6 km. The spacecraft will take three earth days to circle Mars once.

The other instruments are Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyzer (MENCA), a TIR Spectrometer (TIS) and a Lyman-Alpha Photometer (LAP). These will be tested and deployed over the next week.

Story continues below this ad

“The primary objective of this first mission is technology — that is how to reach there. We also will have scientific instruments to investigate the atmosphere of Mars,” ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan had stated during the planning stage of the mission.

According to the Department of Space, the “Indian initiative will demonstrate capability to reach the Martian atmosphere. It will bring strategic advantage to India in the international decision-making process on matters related to Mars.”

The spacecraft has a predicted life span of six months and scientists are confident that the tenure will be completed on account of the availability of fuel. India’s maiden moon mission, Chandrayaan 1, suffered a premature end after systems developed heating problems.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Top Stories

zubeen garg, zubeen garg death, zubeen garg death case,

Singapore police say they don’t suspect foul play in Zubeen Garg’s death

Entertainment Smita Patil was 'uncomfortable' dancing in the rain with Amitabh Bachchan, 'hurt' when Yash Chopra rejected her: 'That will be my end'

Virat Kohli young fan's reaction viral video

Fireworks light up the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the opening ceremony of New Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2020. (Express File image by Oinam Anand)

Sports India experienced host nation bump after 2010 Commonwealth Games. Can 2030 do the same for Indian athletics, swimming, gymnastics and cycling?

For the first time in history, a genocide was broadcast live, supported by Western powers, while the rest of the world stood helpless, unable even to deliver food, anaesthetics, or painkillers, or to stop starvation and agony.

Opinion Palestinian Ambassador writes: Gaza must not be erased

At centre of hijab row, student decides to pull out of Kochi school

India3 hr ago

Amid the controversy over a student not being allowed to wear a hijab at a school in Kochi, the student has decided to pull out of the school. Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty, who had previously called on the school to respect the student’s right to wear the hijab, said on Friday that the school was answerable to the government regarding the circumstances surrounding the girl’s decision.

View all shorts

Live Blog

Loading Taboola...