PSLV C25 Launched Mars Orbit Mission

 After long strenuous hours and 450 Cr Rupees (which is about $728520779) the ISRO scientists have successfully launched the PSLV C25 rocket for Mars Orbiter Mission or “Mangalayan” – a mission to the Mars from Sriharikota satellite launch base at 2:38 pm today. It carried away many small machines (we will introduce them later) which will send us continuous reports of Methane in the Mars atmosphere, would collect samples from there, take photos around and many more.

Now we come to a detail analysis of the Project and along with the discussion we will answer all the questions arise –

What is PSLV?

PSLV C25
Configuration

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) caters to the requirements of launching satellites into Sun-Synchronous and Low Earth Orbits. PSLV is a four stage vehicle with alternate Solid and Liquid propulsion stages. The booster stage along with the strap-on motors and the third stage are solid motors while the second and Fourth stages use liquid engines. PSLV has the capability to launch 1750 kg class satellites into 600 km Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) and 1425 kg satellites into Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub GTO) oF284 km X 21000 km. The vehicle has provision to launch multiple satellites. PSLV has successfully accomplished 2 developmental and 21 operational Missions in a row. It has established itself as a work horse operational launcher of ISRO and has a demonstrated reliability oFO.96. Currently two variants of PSLV are operational, namely PSLV-XL (with six extended strap-on motors attached to the First stage) and PSLV-Core Alone (without strap-on motors). PSLV-C25/Mars Orbiter Mission employs the PSLV-XL version which has already been used in four earlier Missions.

What is PSLV C25?

Trajectory Design

Today it was the 25th launch of the space vehicle with XL configuration. This PSLV C25 carried about 1337 Kg Mars Orbiter Satellite into a 250 km x 23500 km elliptical orbit. The Satellite will be further navigated to a hyperbolic departure trajectory and thereafter it traverses an interplanetary cruise trajectory before reaching the intended orbit around the mars. Mars Orbiter Mission is ISRO's First Interplanetary Mission with an Orbiter craft designed to orbit Mars in an elliptical orbit of 366 km x 80000 km. The technological objective of the Mission is to design and realize a spacecraft with a capability to perform Earth Bound Manoeuvre, Martian Transfer Trajectory (MTT) and Mars Orbit Insertion (MOl) phases. Mars Orbiter Technological Objectives to develop the technologies required for design, planning, management, deep space communication and operations of an Interplanetary Mission. To design and realize Mars Orbiter with a capability to survive and perform Earth bound Manoeuvres, cruise phase of 300 days; Mars orbit insertion E capture and on-orbit phase around Mars. Incorporate autonomous Features to handle contingency situations. 

What about the Payloads, the machines?

1. Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP)
2. Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM)
3. Martian Exospheric Neutral Composition Explorer (MENCA)
4. Mars Colour Camera (MCC)
5. TIR Imaging Spectrometer (TIS)

The scientific objectives of these payloads are exploration of Mars surface Features, morphology, mineralogy and Martian atmosphere.

PSLV C25 Flight Sequence

What’s the plan after reaching Mars?

The Earth-Mars transition comprises the Following three phases

1. Earth-centered phase
2. Heliocentric phase
3. Martian phase

The Spacecraft is injected into an elliptical parking orbit by the launcher. After injection of the Mars Orbiter into the orbit, five orbit raising burns using Liquid Engine are planned. After these burns, the Orbiter will be given a Trans-Mars Injection (TMI) manoeuvre at perigee which will put the Spacecraft in the Mars Transfer Trajectory. After the end of the TMI, the Orbiter travels in a hyperbolic departure trajectory with which it escapes From the Earth's Sphere Of Influence (SOI). After crossing the Earth's 501, the Spacecraft is in an elliptical interplanetary cruise trajectory around the sun for the planned transfer time after which it has its rendezvous with Mars. The spacecraft arrives at the Mars 501 in a hyperbolic trajectory. When the Orbiter reaches Periapsis, closest to Mars, it is manoeuvred For Mars Orbit Insertion (MOl), which will insert the Orbiter into an elliptical Martian orbit of 366 km x 80000 km.

The entire world is watching over it and we pray for the success of the mission.

Gallery from PSLV C25 Assembly and Launch

Mars Orbiter Mission
Spacecraft is being
 integrated to the 4th stage of PSLV-C25

PSLV-C25 fourth stage being hoisted during
its integration with the third stage

Mars Orbiter Mission spacecraft being prepared for
a prelaunch test at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Srihairkota

Panaromic view of PSLV-C25

Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraft attached to the 4th stage of PSLV-C25 and ready for heat shield closure

PSLV-C25 Lift Off

*All the information above are collected from ISRO official website.

ISRO Mars Mars Orbit Mission PSLV space science Sriharikota Technology 11/06/2013 12:59:00 am