India launches spacecraft to Mars.....Tues 5th November 2013

[Cidersomerset]

That was quick only yesterday the BBC put up an article that they were preparing to
blast off,which I posted........
India's space-based 'revolution' Sending Mars Orbitor...
https://projectavalon.net/forum4/show...g-Mars-Orbitor...



India launches spacecraft to Mars
5 November 2013 Last updated at 09:11

Vid on link.....http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24729073

India has successfully launched a spacecraft to the Red Planet - with the aim of
becoming the fourth space agency to reach Mars.The Mars Orbiter Mission took off at
09:08 GMT from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on the country's east coast.
The head of India's space agency told the BBC the mission would demonstrate the
technological capability to reach Mars orbit and carry out experiments.

The spacecraft is set to travel for 300 days, reaching Mars orbit in 2014.

If the satellite orbits the Red Planet, India's space agency will become the fourth in the
world after those of the US, Russia and Europe to undertake a successful Mars mission.

A 56-hour countdown to the launch began on Sunday.

Vid on link.....http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24729073
What ordinary Indians think of the country's mission to Mars


Some observers are viewing the launch of the MOM, also known by the informal name
of Mangalyaan (Mars-craft), as the latest salvo in a burgeoning space race between the
Asian powers of India, China, Japan, South Korea and others.

Prof Andrew Coates, from the UK's Mullard Space Science Laboratory, told BBC News: "I
think this mission really brings India to the table of international space exploration.
Interplanetary exploration is certainly not trivial to do, and [India] has found some
interesting scientific niches to make some measurements in."

Those niche areas include searching for the signature of methane (CH4) in the Martian
atmosphere, which has previously been detected from Martian orbit and telescopes on
Earth. However, Nasa's Curiosity rover recently failed to find the gas in its
measurements of atmospheric gases.

CH4 has a short lifetime in the Martian atmosphere, meaning that some source on the
Red Planet must replenish it. Intriguingly, some 95% of atmospheric methane on Earth
is produced by microbes, which has led some to propose the possibility of a biosphere
deep beneath the Martian surface. But the gas can be produced by geological processes
too, most notably by volcanism.

Definitive conclusions are likely to be elusive, but the spacecraft's Methane Sensor for
Mars (MSM) instrument will aim to make measurements and map any potential sources
of methane "plumes".

The spacecraft will also examine the rate of loss of atmospheric gases to outer space.
This could provide insights into the planet's history; billions of years ago, the envelope
of gases around Mars is thought to have been more substantial.




graphic, BBC

At $72m (£45m), the mission is comparatively cheap, but some commentators have still
questioned whether a country with one of the highest rankings for childhood
malnutrition in the world should be spending millions on a mission to the Red Planet.

In one sense, India was left with reduced options because of the failure of its most
powerful launcher, the first choice to loft the MOM into orbit. That left the country's
space agency without a means to fire the satellite directly out of Earth's atmosphere.

As a fuel-saving alternative, the spacecraft will circle Earth in an elliptical orbit for
nearly a month, building up the necessary velocity to break free from our planet's
gravitational pull.

The formal name for the route MOM will take to Mars is a "Hohmann Transfer Orbit".
The spacecraft takes advantage of a favourable planetary alignment, carrying out six
small engine burns over November to lift it to a higher orbit before a final burn sends it
off on an interplanetary trajectory.

But in order for the MOM to embark on the right trajectory for its 300-day, 780-million
km journey, it must launch by 19 November and carry out its final orbital burn by 30
November.

The difficulty of visiting the Red Planet will not be lost on Indian officials; just under half
the total attempts to reach Mars have failed. But Prof Coates said the planned
mechanics for getting to Mars were on a sound footing, and that the probe stood a good
chance as long as its engines fired correctly.

Continue reading the main story
Mars mission history
Mars
The USSR, Russia, US, Britain, Europe, Japan and China have all launched missions to Mars
There have been around 40 missions (but the total depends on how they are added up)
More than half the world's attempts to reach the Red Planet have failed
Only the US, USSR and Europe have been successful to date

Those who defend India's current direction in space exploration say the technological
development required to mount this mission could indirectly benefit the country's other
activities, including poverty reduction.

Nisha Agrawal, chief executive of Oxfam in India, told the BBC: "India is home to poor
people but it's also an emerging economy, it's a middle-income country, it's a member
of the G20. What is hard for people to get their head around is that we are home to
poverty but also a global power.

"We are not really one country but two in one. And we need to do both things:
contribute to global knowledge as well as take care of poor people at home."

K Radhakrishnan, chair of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), told the BBC's
India Business Report: "Why India has to be in the space programme is a question that
has been asked over the last 50 years. The answer then, now and in the future will
be: 'It is for finding solutions to the problems of man and society.'

He added: "A great revolution has taken place over these last 50 years in the country
by a meagre expenditure that has been put into the space programme."

Mr Radhakrishnan played down talk of a race between China and India in space,
commenting: "We are not in a race with anybody, but I would say we are in a race with
ourselves. We need to excel, we need to improve, and we need to bring new services."

But a successful launch would allow India to surge ahead of regional rival China, at least
in the exploration of Mars. China's Yinghuo-1 spacecraft was to have reached Martian
orbit in late 2012. But it was piggybacked on the Russian Phobos Grunt spacecraft,
which became stranded in low-Earth orbit shortly after launch in November 2011.

The MOM was to have been launched as early as 28 October, but rough weather in the
Pacific forced officials to delay the launch.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24729073

[kersley]

Well done India.Lets hope they're not so secretive with their findings as the rest.

[kanishk]

Last time they sent Chandrayan, no single photo taken of moon is published yet. When they found that there is a water on moon, they published those findings in some magazine first and then only after week opened their mouth on news channel. And after that they said that it was the water formed by the protons and neutrons that are been emitted by sun captured on moon surface. After few months radio linkage got cut of from the satellite.

[Vitalux]

I am so excited to learn that India is entering the frontiers of outer space.

I have no doubt that a few people from India have already been to Mars

My guess, is that some people want to get there the hard way

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

It's hard for me to believe how quickly this was announced and is already happening.

Last month we were quibbling about what might have happened to Mars' atmosphere,
how the Giza pyramids seem to show a gravity assisted flyby map, and the conditions that may support life on the outer planets (like moons of Saturn),
but now India is fully engaged in reaching Mars and might answer all of the above questions within our lifetimes.

I am very excited, and no doubt so are they -- people all around the world knew something really cool was about to happen in terms of the reality of life on other worlds.

How cool isn't saying enough, but it is cool... I hope we learn something from it.

p.s. all the people are bashing India for not putting enough money into nutrition, etc. But I would imagine they want to know what happened to Mars' atmosphere in case it were to occur on our own planet. That's not a waste, it's practical.

They really should put more effort into RV though.

[kanishk]

ISRO scientist use to convince on news channels that the main reason for these missions is to show the technical capability of Inda and is economicaly very cheap.Last time for Chandrayan mission they are saying that these missions are not funded using tax money but using the money earned from communication companies. That means you have paid for this mission through your mobile topups.

There was someone avalon who is working in ISRO, he once mentioned that all the photos taken by Chandrayan are processed in a very secret room with high security in ISRO facility, and he was guessing that they are all been getting Photoshopped.

Now ISRO said that Mangalyaan will be monitored by NASA in initial phase on launch and at the end when achieving mars orbit.

There is a big moment against corruption going on in India. Corruption is every were. And I hope if India is good at corruption, some corruption should happen here in ISRO so that these original pics and data of moon and Mangalyan should be leaked, or sold, or be stolen etc.

These are the paylods on Mangalyan:

Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP)
Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP) is an absorption cell photometer. It measures the relative abundance of deuterium and hydrogen from lyman-alpha emission in the Martian upper atmosphere (typically Exosphere and exobase). Measurement of D/H (Deuterium to Hydrogen abundance Ratio) allows us to understand especially the loss process of water from the planet.

Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM)
MSM is designed to measure Methane (CH4) in the Martian atmosphere with PPB accuracy and map its sources. Data is acquired only over illuminated scene as the sensor measures reflected solar radiation. Methane concentration in the Martian atmosphere undergoes spatial and temporal variations.

Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA)
MENCA is a quadruple mass spectrometer capable of analyzing the neutral composition in the range of 1 to 300 amu with unit mass resolution. The heritage of this payload is from Chandra’s Altitudinal Composition Explorer (CHACE) payload. MENCA is a quadrupole mass spectrometer based scientific payload, capable of measuring relative abundances of neutral constituents in the mass range of 1 to 300 amu, with a unit mass resolution.

Mars Color Camera (MCC)
This tri-color Mars color camera gives images & 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 & Deimos. It also provides the context information for other science payloads.

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

[Cidersomerset]

7 November 2013 Last updated at 15:05

.India Mars probe makes first engine burnBy Paul Rincon

Science editor, BBC News website




After a successful launch on Tuesday, India's Mars spacecraft has carried out the first of six crucial engine firings in Earth orbit.

The probe performed the firing with its liquid fuel thruster at 19:47 GMT on Wednesday (Thursday 1:17 IST).

The aim is to gradually build up the necessary velocity to break free from our planet's gravitational pull.

If the firings succeed, the spacecraft will travel for 300 days, ready for entering Mars orbit in 2014.

K. Radhakrishnan, head of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), told the Times of India that the spacecraft was in "excellent health".


Read more....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24851242

[Operator]

Another Mars mission in trouble ....

Problems with Indian Mars mission


SRIHARIKOTA -

There are problems with the Indian satellite on its way to Mars . The probe Mangalyaan should run in increasing orbits around the earth , and ultimately be able to make the crossing. Mars But it's Monday failed to get . Satellite in such a higher orbit Tuesday is a new attempt , reports the Indian space agency ISRO .

The Mangalyaan turned at an altitude of nearly 72,000 kilometers around the earth . The engines had to push up the satellite to about 100,000 kilometers . The satellite engine was not there enough speed . Therefore the probe did not exceed a height of over 78,000 kilometers . The problems do not end the mission to mean .

The space trip cost India killed about 50 million. For space concepts is a pittance . Mangalyaan is primarily a showcase for India . The country wants to show that it is able to make Mars . The difficult crossing India was the first Asian country that succeeds . Attempts by the great rivals China and Japan failed previously . To date, only the United States , Russia and Europe came to the red planet .

The Mangalyaan was launched last week. At Mars , the satellite carrying a few scientific studies . So go see the probe or perhaps traces of methane in the atmosphere . This may reflect minor forms of life on the surface . It also measures the probe gases in the atmosphere evaporate and enter the room . Maybe that explains how Mars has become . Inhospitable

In 2011 a large failed Russian Mars Project . The flight controllers in Moscow lost shortly after launch contact with the probe Phobos - Grunt . Thereby not come out of its orbit around the earth and perished after a few months in the atmosphere . The mission took Russia converted about 120 million euro.

Translated by Google

Original Article: http://www.telegraaf.nl/buitenland/2...e_India__.html

[Cidersomerset]

11 November 2013 Last updated at 13:22

Indian Mars mission hit by snag By Paul Rincon

Science editor, BBC News website




India's mission to Mars has hit a snag, after a planned engine burn failed to raise
the spacecraft's orbit around Earth by the intended amount.The problem occurred
during a manoeuvre designed to boost the craft's maximum distance from 71,623
km to 100,000km.

A problem with the liquid fuel thruster caused the 1,350kg vehicle to fall short of
the mark.But the head of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) said the
spacecraft remained "healthy".

As a solution, the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) - known informally as Mangalyaan,
or Mars-craft - will be commanded to execute an additional thruster firing at 05:00
IST on Tuesday (23:30 GMT on Monday) to make up for the shortfall


Read More...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24900271

[sheme]

Hmm it had to happen didn't it NASA?