INDIA'S MARS ORBITER MISSION
SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED
India launched its first Mars Orbiter Mission probe, officially named Mangalyaan, on Tuesday from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, almost a year after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced it.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C25). The mission aims to map the Martian surface, study the atmosphere and search for methane gas, a sign that the planet can support life, according to Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).
Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraft attached to PSLV-C25. The 1.3-tonne Mars Orbiter Mission is carrying a Methane sensor for Mars built to measure the natural gas in the Martian atmosphere and map its sources. The project is expected to cost `450 crore.
Scientists at the Isro centre in Bangalore. The spacecraft will move to an elliptical orbit around Earth for around 25 days before leaving on 30 November for a 300-day journey to Mars. Rocket PSLV C25 is the launch vehicle and is about 44.4m tall.
India spends about $1.1 billion a year on its space programmes, compared to $3.3 billion by Japan and $17.9 billion by the US. A successful mission will make India the fourth in the world after the US, Russia and Europe to undertake a successful Mars mission.
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