Updates New boy around the Red Planet - the 2013 Indian Mars Orbiter update thread!

[thepenguin]

They appear to have the accepted amount of gold foil on it. I predict success.

The gold is there to appease the almighty probe when we request passage out of LEO...

 

[4throck]

Very interesting mission indeed.

I predict at least some success, if the probe is able to maintain the proper attitude, temperature and communications during the Earth escape orbital maneuvers. I'd say 80% chance of going well. That would at least make it go near Mars and get some data.

I'm unsure about the engine burn to get into Mars orbit. That is a first for ISRO, so I'd say 50% chance.

 

[francisdrake]

I wish the Indians all the best! Mars is difficult target. About half of all Mars missions failed, with a higher percentage in the early years.

But the spacecraft has already survived the most difficult part of its journey, the road transport from Bangalore to the launch site on the east coast! :thumbup:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

The 5 science instruments:

The spacecraft:

And the spacecraft's trajectory:

Note that the spacecraft will be launched into an elliptical orbit (248x23000 km) around the Earth first, where it will make several perigee burns over the next 30 days before finally making the TMI burn on November 30. The spacecraft is planned to make the MOI burn and enter the planned highly elliptical Martian orbit (377x80000 km) on September 21, 2014 (one day before MAVEN does!), where it is planned to operate fore at least a year.

And it would not be India if they don't transport spacecrafts by Tata trucks. :rofl:

And I'll leave you with a few news reports on this:

 

[IronRain]

Spaceflight Now: India putting final touches on Mars-bound spacecraft

 

[wingnut]

Deep Space Network - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Does the DSN provide its service to other countries/agencies? I mean can you contract the DSN for any mission you like?

Edit: ok, according to Wikipedia India has its own tracking network...

 

[IronRain]

Does the DSN provide its service to other countries/agencies? I mean can you contract the DSN for any mission you like?

Edit: ok, according to Wikipedia India has its own tracking network...

But other countries can, as long as they have an agreement with NASA AFAIK.

Another link: http://deepspace.jpl.nasa.gov/dsn/faq-dsnops.html

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Rocket stacking:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gXUkP2bkyc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gXUkP2bkyc[/ame]

 

[IronRain]

Launch of Indian Mars Orbiter Mission pushed into November

The Indian Space Research Organization has pushed the launch of its Mars Orbiter Mission into November due to bad weather in the Pacific Ocean that will prevent Tracking Ships from reaching their required locations for the opening of the window. ISRO announced a one-week delay into the first week of November.

Originally, the Mars Orbiter Mission was planned to launch on October 28 - the opening of its interplanetary launch window that extends through November 19, 2013. The launch vehicle and the spacecraft are ready for launch, waiting for weather conditions to improve in the Pacific. Officials will hold a review on October 22 to set a new launch date.

 

[orb]

AmericaSpace: New Launch Date for India's Mars Mission May Be Announced Tuesday

 

[orb]

AmericaSpace: India's First Mars Mission Confirmed for 5 November Launch:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that it will attempt to launch its first mission to Mars on the afternoon of 5 November 2013. According to a brief news release, issued earlier today (Tuesday), ISRO revealed that the liftoff of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) with the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)—also known as “Mangalyaan” (Hindi for “Mars Craft”)—is scheduled to take place at 2:36 p.m. India Standard Time (5:36 a.m. EDT). With the current “launch window” to reach Mars due to close on 19 November, all eyes will be on India in the coming days, as the world’s second most populous nation reaches for the Red Planet.

{...}

The Planetary Society Blog: India's Mars Orbiter Mission now set for November 5 launch date

 

[orb]

Universe Today: MAVEN and MOM Missions from NASA and India Plan Martian Science Collaboration in Orbit

 

[orb]

The Planetary Society Blog - Emily Lakdawalla: India prepares to take flight to Mars with the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)

On October 31, 2013, the Mars Orbiter Mission rested atop its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) during a rehearsal of the launch, planned for November 5.
Credit: ISRO​

 

[orb]

AmericaSpace: Launch Rehearsal Places India One Step Closer to First Mars Mission

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

It's GO for launch tomorrow at 09:08 UTC! As always, good luck for the whole duration of its primary mission! (especially as the Indian's only previous planetary exploration mission, the Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter, failed 10 months into its planned 2 years lifetime)

Live webcast starts at 08:30 UTC here: http://webcast.gov.in/live / http://216.185.104.74/isro

And a pre-launch review article from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24772147

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdcpihr-KR4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdcpihr-KR4[/ame]

 

[orb]

NBC NEWS Science / The Associated Press: India hopes Mars mission puts it among elite space pioneers

 

[Codz]

This is rather exciting, especially with MAVEN launching soon thereafter. It's always good to see another nation pushing its space boundaries.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

T-45 minutes and counting.

 

[Codz]

T-15 minutes.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Launched right on time. The first three stages have worked normally and the spacecraft & liquid fourth stage is in a 20 minutes coasting phase.