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org -
[Space] ISRO Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM) Mangalyaan: Payloads, Purpose,
Argument favor & against
1. Prologue
2. Mars Planet: Basics
3. Mars: Past missions
4. MoM (ISRO) vs MAVEN (NASA)
1. MoMs Launch Vehicle
2. MoM @Mars
3. Payloads and purpose?
5. Do we need Mars Mission?
1. Anti-Arguments
2. Pro-arguments
1. #1: cash will be recovered
2. #2: Soft Power
3. #3: Did not steal from poors month
4. #4: Making History
5. #5: Misc.
6. Mock Questions
7. Correct Answers for the MCQs
Prologue
Old article, just updating a few bits after Mangalyaan reached Mars in September 2014.
There is no dearth of ball by ball commentary and technical articles in newspaper, but for the exam focus
should be on: basics, purpose, pros and cons.
Otherwise September seems to be the busiest and tiresome month of 2014 for competitive aspirants- Modi
Government launching a new scheme-committee-initiative every day, SC giving a new landmark verdict
every day, newspapers are littered with columns on foreign relations, Ebola, Mars, ISIS, J&K floods, Scotland
and what not.
Mars Planet: Basics
Has two moons: Phobos and Deimos
4
th
planet from Sun
2
nd
smallest planet in the Solar system after Mercury.
Diameter: ~6800 kms (Mars); Earth (~12700 kms)
Volume wise, ~8 Mars would fit inside our Earth.
One Martian day: 24 hours 37 minutes
One Martian year: 687 days
Mars is also tilted on its axis (25 degrees).
Mars gravity 1/10
th
of Earth.
When Sun and Mars are in opposite direction, it can be easily observed from Earth.
How far is Mars from Earth?
shortest farthest
56 million kms 400 million kms, when both are on opposite sides of solar system.
Mars: Past missions
List is not exhaustive
Success #EPICFAILS
USSR Mars orbiter (70s)
USSR: Korabl series, Mars 1969 series, Phobos
Grunt
USA / NASA
Marine series (~mid 60s)
Viking series (mid 70s)
Pathfinder (~mid 90s)
Rovers: Spirt, Opportunity (2003)
Phoenix (2007)
Curiosity (2011)
USA Mariner series before mid-60s
Maven (2013-14)
European Space Agency (2003) Beagal lender (although
images lost)
Japans Nozomi- failed to enter Mars orbit (1998-
2003)
ISROs Mars Orbitor Mission (2013-14)
MoM (ISRO) vs MAVEN (NASA)
ISROs MoM NASAs Maven
Mars Orbitor Mission Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN)
launch vehicle=PSLV Atlas V rockets. (more powerful than PSLV)
launched on 5
th
Nov 2013 18
th
Nov 2013
reached Mars on 24
th
Sep 2014 Reached Mars on 21
st
Sep 2014.
launched from Sriharikota, Andhra launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida, US.
Rs.450 crore $671 million
~1,350 kg ??
Doing three studies:
1. Surface/geology: using camera
and spectrometer.
2. (Particle) Environment: using
MENCA
3. Atmosphere: using Photometer
and Methane sensor
Only study Martian (upper) atmosphere.
based on that data: Itll give clues about martian climate, geologic,
and geochemical conditions over time
Will find the answer: Did Mars ever had suitable environment to
support life?
has five instruments/payloads has eight instrument- spectrograph, magnetometer, ion analyzer etc.

The spacecraft may also provide communications relay support for future
Mars landers and rovers.
MoMs Launch Vehicle
PSLV GSLV
Polar satellite launch vehicle Geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle
Can carry upto 1600 kg satellite 2500kg
ISRO had used PSLV XL (C25) launch vehicle to launch the Mangalyaan (Mars spacecraft). Why?
1. At that time, GSLV tests were not successful. Last time they tried GSLV to launch GSAT-14 satellite and
failed because of fuel leak. (Aug 2013)
2. Mangalyaan weighs ~1300 kg. PSLV can easily carry this weight.
3. PSLV is tried and tested technology.
Factoids
MoM/Mangalyaan: first Indian spacecraft to cross Earths escape velocity of 11.2 km per second.
Mangalyaan traveled for ~300 days, covering ~65 crore kilometers, and reached Martian orbit in September
2014.
Mangalyan is not the fastest spacecraft to reach Mars. Others are far ahead of It, in terms of speed. For
example- European Space Agencys Mars mission (2003) reached Mars in ~210 days.
MoM cost 7 rupees per kms to reach Mars.
MoM @Mars
Nov 2013: MoM Launched from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
Sep 2014: MoM reached Mars orbit
MoM in Mars Orbit
Periapsis: nearest point ~420 kms
Apoapsis: farthest point ~77,000 kms
time to finish one circle of Mars ~73 hours / ~ 3 days.
Orbit inclination 150 degrees
Payloads and purpose?
Q. What is the purpose of sending MoM?
Ans. To find out composition of Mars SAM (Surface Atmosphere Minerals), using five payloads/instruments:
Study Mars Payload detail
Surface
1.Color
Camera
Mars Color camera.
Study surface, dust storms etc.
Take photos of Mars satellites: Phobos and Deimos.
Atmosphere
2.MENCA
Gandhi
Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyzer.
To study neutral gas atoms in the Martian atmosphere.
3.Methane
Sensor
Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM).
If methane + water detected=possible that at some point of time, Mars had
supported life form.
4.Photometer
Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP).
To Measure hydrogen and deuterium.
Deuterium = heavier than hydrogen.Water made from heavy hydrogen is
heavier and hence it evaporates differently.
Knowing Hydrogen : Deuterium ratio will help answer how did water vanish
from Mars?
Minerals 5.Spectrometer
Thermal Infrared Imaging spectrometer (TIS). To study mineral resources of
Mars
And to help UPSC update its Mains GS1 syllabus: Distribution of key natural
resources across the Earth AND Mars.
ISTRAC
ISRO Telemetry, Tracking & Command Network @Banglore.
Previously tracked and commanded Chandrayaan-1
Now doing the same for Mars orbiter.
Do we need Mars Mission?
(For Group Discussion GD/Interview)
Anti-Arguments
1. Crores of rupee wasted- could be used to feed millions of hungry people in India. Millions of children
suffering from malnutrition, half the junta doesnt have toilets- Modi himself highlighting this issue in his
every speech.
2. Better get those thousands of ISRO scientists and engineers to comeup with new technology to
fix malnutrition and malnutrition.
3. ISROs budget is better spent to meet Indias communication needs and bring down digital divide.
4. Even Airtel has sued ISRO for not meeting its contract obligations. So, ISRO better focus on present rather
than doing some mars research whose benefits can materialize may be after 100-200 years.
5. ISRO has installed a fancy methane detector in this spacecraft. But NASAs curiosity rover data has already
concluded that Mars environment doesnt contain methane. ISRO is only doing gaddha majoori (donkey labour).
Counter argument: NASAs Curiosity rover measured presence of methane in a small area. But ISRO will
scan entire Martian environment to detect Methane.
6. GSLV testing has not giving positive result yet. Had they waited for GSLV testing to finish- Mars Mission
could be done in 2016. (Even Chandrayan-2 project is stalled due to this GSLV problem). But it seems ISRO
chairman wants media publicity before retiring, so made he all the haste to launch Mars Mission in 2013
using PSLV (instead of GSLV).
7. Less of a scientific pursuit and more of a space race with China- me too going on Mars. First India should
overtake China in terms of GDP and poverty removal.
8. Britain, Japan, World Bank etc. reduce the donation to India thinking since India has lot of money of run
such Mars adventures, they must have money to take care of their poors as well.
(To drag the argument further non-seriously)
1. This is just publicity stunt to divert attention from real issues. Earlier Chandryaan found traces of water on
Moon, then Aaj-tak etc. Hindi channels ran 24/7 reports for weeks. In the meantime government can go scot
free with bigger scams and inflation.
2. And most importantly, the youngsters have to mugup one more stupid topic for the competitive exams. The
financial cost of combined man-hours wasted in studying such topics= alone worth 13% of GDP, so much for
Demographic dividend.
Pro-arguments
#1: cash will be recovered
At the core of Anti arguments= Cash that ISRO has wasted in this Mars project. But in reality its an investment
that will be recovered within a few decades, How?
1. Many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America are seeing good economic growth. But they lack skilled
manpower, technology and budget to setup their own launch vehicles and premier space agencies.
2. But they too need satellites for communication and military. So, they outsource the satellite launch/survey
work to established players.
3. ISROs commercial Arm ANTRIX makes annual profit of ~100 crore rupees from such outsourced
contracts.
4. ISRO spent only 450 crore rupees. NASA has spent billions of dollars on Mars. This Makes ISRO world-
famous as a prudent cost saving space agency= more clients via its commercial arm ANTRIX = more money
incoming.
So, we can see this Mars mission as ISROs 450 crore rupees advertisement / PR campaign- to impress those
potential clients and get more contracts=> money will be recovered and profit will be made.
#2: Soft Power
As ISRO establishes reputation, gets more contracts from third world- it can be used as a tool to exercise soft
power. How?
give take
personnel /technology exchange
programs with developing countries
giving discounts on their space
projects/infrastructure
their support for Indias claim to Permanent seat in UNSC
their votes in our favour whenever Kashmir/Arunachal
issues popup in UN General Assembly
Oil-gas exploration contracts in their territory and so
on.
In short, there is more to international relations than what meets the eyes. 450 crore is a very petty amount to
accomplish many diplomatic victories- [compared to the thousands of crore rupees weve given to Bangladesh,
Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan via soft loans so they dont shelter terrorists and secessionists on their soil.]
#3: Did not steal from poors month
1. Government spends barely ~0.35% of budget on space programs. And even out of that ~0.35% allocation,
ISRO spent only 8% on Mars Missions. There are plenty of government schemes with way bigger budgetary
allotments for poor people. So its not like government stopped/reduced expenditure on some xyz scheme for
poors to fund ISROs Mars adventure.
2. Agreed, poverty should be removed, and everyone must get food security. But the proposed food security bill
will need ~1-2 lakh crores rupees every year.
3. Even If ISRO didnt spend 450 crores on Mars, the money thus saved- wont make a big contribution to food
security anyways.
#4: Making History
Until now, only three agencies had succeeded in Mars Mission
1. European Space Agency (ESA) of European consortium,
2. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US
3. Roscosmos of Russia
4. And ISRO became the fourth one.
Even USA, Japan and China failed to reach mars in their first attempt.
Overall, 51 missions made so far, only 21 have succeeded.
ISROs Mars mission succeeded in its first attempt (that too without coaching), hence its a milestone in the
history of space explorations.
Even China has applauded this event as pride of Asia.
#5: Misc.
1. Will attract talented desi scientist/engineers to join ISRO. Thus, braindrain will decline.
2. Data gathered from ISROs mission, can be used to send manned mission (astronauts) on Mars later, with
collaboration of NASA etc.
3. The technology used in this mission has potential application in weather forecast, computer tech, health-
medicine etc. in future.
4. Space research is not waste of time. 1990 Odisha cyclone killed >10000 people. But 2013 cyclone Phalin
killed very few, because Indian satellite gave accurate weather prediction about where and when the storm
would hit. Space research has given immense benefits to Agriculture, education, fisheries and defense.
(Counter argument: then send more weather/education satellites- not spacecrafts to Moon and Mars!)
5. Humanity would not have progressed, if we had not taken such leaps into the unknown. And space is indeed
the biggest unknown out there.
Mock Questions
Q1. Mars is larger / higher than Earth in terms of
1. gravity
2. diameter
3. no. of moons
4. days in a year
Correct choices
A. All of them
B. Only 3 and 4
C. Only 1, 3 and 4
D. None of them
Q2. Which of the following missions have failed to reach Mars?
1. Viking
2. Phobos
3. Nozomi
Correct choices
A. Only 1 and 2
B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1 and 3
D. All of them
Q3. Why did ISROs Mangalyaan or MoM used PSLV instead of GSLV as launch vehicle?
a. PSLV can carry more weight than GSLV
b. PSLV could carry MoMs weight and had proven track record of success.
c. Both A and B
d. Neither A nor B
Q4. Similarities between ISROs MoM and NASAs MAVEN missions?
1. Both lack Land rovers
2. Both aim to study Martian atmosphere
3. Both were launched and reached Mars in the same months.
Correct statements are
A. Only 1 and 2
B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1 and 3
D. All of them
Q5. Whats the purpose of ISROs Mars mission?
1. Study its surface
2. study its atmosphere
3. Study its mineral composition
Correct statements are
A. Only 1 and 2
B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1 and 3
D. All of them
Q6. Incorrect pairs of ISRO Mars payloads vs. purpose
1. MENCA: Methane and Natural gas
2. Spectrometer: study surface and dust storms
3. Photometer: Study Hydrogen and deuterium
Answer choices
A. Only 1 and 2
B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1 and 3
D. None of them
Mains
1. India, a country faced with plethora of socio-economic problems, should not involve in space race with
developed countries. Do you agree? Justify your stand. 200 words
2. Discuss the importance of ISROs MoM Mission as a milestone event in the space exploration programs of
India. 200 words.
3. Write an Essay: The hunger of exploration and the thrill of discovery are not for the faint-hearted.
Correct Answers for the MCQs
1. B: only 3 (moons) and 4 (year)
2. B: 2 and 3 phobos and nazomi
3. only B
4. D all correct
5. D study SAM: Surface-atmosphere minerals
6. A: 1 and 2 wrong. MENCA is for neutral gas, not Natural gas.
Published on 26/09/2014 @ 9:07 pm under Category: Current Affairs Weekly
URL to article: http://mrunal.org/2014/09/space-isro-mars-orbiter-mission-mom-mangalyan-payloads-nasa-
maven.html