The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) just announced that their first mission to Mars is a success, and they have become the first nation to enter Mars’ orbit on the first try, putting India in the space history books.
What is red, is a planet and is the focus of my orbit? pic.twitter.com/HDRWjOcPus
— ISRO's Mars Orbiter (@MarsOrbiter) September 24, 2014
The Mars Orbiter Mission, or MOM, put a satellite into orbit to study and map the surface of Mars, as well as try to identify the cause of the disappearance of the formerly abundant water on Mars. It is India’s first mission to the red planet, and was launched last year on November 10th. Its mission is scheduled to last about six months, and cost India about $75 million.
The spacecraft had to engage in a series of complicated maneuvers that 23 out of the 41 previous attempts failed to complete, and usually end up crashing or veering off course.
#MarsOrbiterMission – The plan of action for Mars Orbit Insertion on September 24. pic.twitter.com/l5iZmPLfnR
— ISRO (@isro) September 18, 2014
“We have gone beyond the boundaries of human enterprise and innovation,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after celebrating with Indian scientists. They were proud to boast that the mission used only homegrown technology, which lowered the price tag for so little.
The success comes just days after NASA successfully managed to have another spacecraft, MAVEN, enter the Martian atmosphere on Sunday. But the MOM mission was a fraction of the cost of MAVEN, which had a price tag of $671 million.
We congratulate @ISRO for its Mars arrival! @MarsOrbiter joins the missions studying the Red Planet. #JourneyToMars pic.twitter.com/lz90flOZLG
— NASA (@NASA) September 24, 2014
Congratulations to India and the ISRO!
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