OBJECTIVES

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
management.

communication,

navigation,

mission

planning

and

Incorporate autonomous features to handle contingency situations.

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

MAJOR CHALLENGES
Thermal Environment- The bus needs to cope with a wide range of thermal environment,
from Near Earth conditions with Sun and Earth contributions to Mars conditions where
eventually eclipses and reduced solar flux give rise to cold case issues.
Radiation Environment- The main frame bus elements and payloads are basically
designed for interplanetary missions capable of operating in Earth Burn Maneuvers , Mars
Transfer Trajectory and Martian Orbit environments.
Communication Systems- The communication systems for the Mars mission are
responsible for the challenging task of communication management up to a distance of 400
million km. The High Gain Antenna system is based on a single 2.2 meter reflector
illuminated by a feed at S-band.
Power System- One of the major challenges in the design of power system is due to the
larger distance of the satellite from the Sun. The power generation in Mars orbit is reduced
to nearly 50% to 35% compared to Earths orbit.
Propulsion System- As the critical operation of Martian Orbit Insertion with Liquid Engine
burn occurs after 10 months of launch, suitable isolation techniques are adopted to prevent
fuel/ oxidizer migration issues.

NAVIGATION
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C25, injected the Spacecraft into an Elliptical Parking
Orbit with a perigee of 250 km and an apogee of 23,550 km.
Further, six orbit raising manoeuvers gradually raised the apogee of the spacecraft to
1,92,874 km, using the 440 N Liquid Engine on board.
The last manoeuver, termed as Trans Mars Injection (TMI), moved the spacecraft in the Mars
Transfer Trajectory (MTT).
Spacecraft crosses Earths Sphere of Influence (SOI) and enters heliocentric elliptic cruise
phase.
A series of Trajectory Correction Manoeuvres (TCMs) are planned in cruise phase, using
Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS) thrusters to achieve desired Mars arrival conditions.
At the end of the heliocentric phase, Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) manoeuvre will be carried out
by firing the Liquid Engine onboard and the spacecraft will be inserted into the intended
Martian Orbit.
The spacecraft will focus on in-depth study of morphology of the Martian surface and probe
the composition of its atmosphere and the space environment.

PAYLOADS

REFERENCES
http://www.isro.org/mars/home.aspx
http://www.isro.org/mars/navigation.aspx
http://www.isro.org/mars/objectives.aspx