SpAce EthIcS: More about Mangalyan-Mars Orbital Mission...!!!

Mission Objectives

One of the main objectives of the first Indian mission to Mars is to develop the technologies required for design, planning, management and operations of an interplanetary mission.

Following are the major objectives of the mission:

A. Technological Objectives:

Design and realisation of a Mars orbiter with a capability to survive and perform Earth bound manoeuvres, 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.

B. Scientific Objectives:

Exploration of Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and Martian atmosphere by indigenous scientific instruments.

PAYLOADS USED IN MOM..

1. Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP)-
It is an absorption cell photometer. It measures the relative abundance of Deuterium and Hydrogen from Lyman-Alpha emission in the Martian Upper Atmosphere(exosphere and exosbase). Measurement of D/H(deuterium to hydrogen) ratio allows to understand the loss of water from the planet.

2. Mars Color Camera (MCC)-
This mars color camera gives images and information about the surface features and composition of Martian surface. They are useful to monitor the dynamic events and weather of mars. MCC will also be used for probing the two satellites of Mars -Phobos and Deimos. It also provides the context information for other science payloads.

3. Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM)-
Designed to measure Methane in the Martian atmosphere with PPB accuracy and map its sources. Data is acquired only over illuminated scenes as the sensor measures reflected solar radiations. Methane concentration in the Martian atmosphere undergoes spatial and tempporal variations.

4. Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA)-
MENCA is a quadruple mass spectrometer capable of analysing the neutral composition in the range of 1-300 amu with unit mass resolution. The heritage of this payload is from Chandra's Altitudinal Compositional Explorer (CHACE) payload.

5. Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS)-
TIS measure the thermal emission and can be operated both during day and night.
Temperature and emissivity are the two basic physical parameters estimated for thermal emission measurement. Many minerals and soil type have characteristic spectra in TIS region.
TIS can map surface composition and mineralogy of Mars.