MISSION MARS
MARS
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. The surface of Mars is
orange-red because it is covered in iron(III) oxide dust, giving it
the nickname "the Red Planet".
Mars is among the brightest objects in Earth's sky, and its high-
contrast albedo features have made it a common subject
for telescope viewing.
It is classified as a terrestrial planet and is the second smallest
of the Solar System's planets with a diameter of 6,779 km
(4,212 mi). In terms of orbital motion, a Martian solar day (sol) is
equal to 24.6 hours, and a Martian solar year is equal to 1.88
Earth years (687 Earth days).
Mars has two natural satellites that are small and irregular in
shape: Phobos and Deimos.
MARS
Mars's average distance from the Sun is roughly 230 million km
(143 million mi), and its orbital period is 687 (Earth) days.
The solar day (or sol) on Mars is only slightly longer than an Earth day:
24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35.244 seconds.
A Martian year is equal to 1.8809 Earth years, or 1 year, 320 days, and
18.2 hours.
The gravitational potential difference and thus the delta-v needed to
transfer between Mars and Earth is the second lowest for Earth.
Mars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago, possibly because of
numerous asteroid strikes, so the solar wind interacts directly with the
Martian ionosphere, lowering the atmospheric density by stripping away
atoms from the outer layer.
MARS
The ancient Sumerians named Mars Nergal, the god of war and plague.
During Sumerian times, Nergal was a minor deity of little significance,
but, during later times, his main cult center was the city of Nineveh.
During the seventeenth century A.D., Tycho Brahe measured the diurnal
parallax of Mars that Johannes Kepler used to make a preliminary
calculation of the relative distance to the planet. From Brahe's
observations of Mars, Kepler deduced that the planet orbited the Sun not
in a circle, but in an ellipse.
When the telescope became available, the diurnal parallax of Mars was
again measured in an effort to determine the Sun-Earth distance. This
was first performed by Giovanni Domenico Cassini in 1672.
The first person to draw a map of Mars that displayed any terrain features
was the Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens.
MARS
In ancient Indian astronomy and mythology, Mars was known as
Mangala or Angaraka, the deity of war and aggression, and
associated with the color red. Indian astronomers also made
observations and calculations about Mars's size, distance, and
even speculated about water on the planet.
In Vedic mythology, Mars is linked to the Earth goddess, with
some versions describing him as the son of Shiva and Earth. He
is also known as Lohita, meaning "the red one".
Indian astronomical texts, like those by Varahamihira, contain
descriptions and calculations about Mars, including its diameter
and distance from Earth.
An Indian astronomical text from the 5th century CE estimated
Mars's angular size and calculated the distance between Earth
and Mars.
MARS
Varahamihira also speculated on the presence of water on Mars
in his book, which has been confirmed by modern scientific
discoveries.
INDIA’S FIRST MISSION TO MARS
India's first mission to Mars, called Mangalyaan, was launched on November 5,
2013, by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The mission was a
major milestone for India's space program, making it the fourth country in the
world to reach Mars, after the United States, the Soviet Union, and the
European Space Agency.
Mangalyaan, which means "Mars craft" in English, was designed to study the
Martian surface and atmosphere. The spacecraft was equipped with five
scientific instruments to collect data on the planet's geology, climate, and search
for signs of life.
The mission was notable not only for its scientific objectives but also for its low
cost and efficient design. The spacecraft was launched on a Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket, which is a relatively small and inexpensive launch
vehicle
INDIA’S FIRST MISSION TO MARS
Mangalyaan successfully entered Mars' orbit on September 24, 2014, and began
transmitting data back to Earth. The mission was initially designed to last for six
months, but it far exceeded its expected lifespan, operating for seven and a half
years until communication was lost in April 2022.
The success of Mangalyaan marked a significant achievement for India's space
program and paved the way for future interplanetary missions.
MANGALYAAN – MARS ROVER
The satellite was equipped with five scientific instruments to collect data on
Mars' geology, climate, and search for signs of life. Mangalyaan successfully
entered Mars' orbit on September 24, 2014, and began transmitting data back
to Earth.
• Payload Capacity: Mangalyaan had a payload capacity of 15 kg, which included
five scientific instruments.
• Orbit: The satellite was placed in a highly elliptical orbit around Mars, with a
periapsis of 366 km and an apoapsis of 80,000 km.
• Mission Objectives: The primary objectives of the mission were to study
Mars' surface and atmospheric features, search for signs of life, and develop
technologies for interplanetary missions.
Mangalyaan's success marked a significant milestone for India's space program,
demonstrating its capabilities in interplanetary exploration.
MANGALYAAN – MARS ROVER
Design and Development-
• Mangalyaan was designed and developed by the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO)
• The satellite was built at a cost of approximately ₹450 crore (US$67 million)-
Mangalyaan was launched on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket,
specifically the PSLV-C25.
Propulsion and Power-
• Mangalyaan was equipped with a liquid fuel propulsion system
• The satellite was powered by a combination of solar panels and batteries
Communication- Mangalyaan communicated with Earth through a high-gain
antenna. The satellite transmitted data back to Earth at a rate of 40 kbps
MANGALYAAN – MARS ROVER
Instruments-Mangalyaan carried five scientific instruments:
1. Mars Colour Camera (MCC): a high-resolution camera to capture images of
the Martian surface
2. Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM): an instrument to detect and measure
methane in the Martian atmosphere
3. Lyman-Alpha Photometer (LAP): an instrument to measure the radiation
emitted by the Martian atmosphere
4. Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA): an instrument to
study the neutral particles in the Martian exosphere
5. Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS): an instrument to study the
thermal properties of the Martian surface
PSLV
PSLV
DAYS TO – DO
DAY 1 Build Mars model. Build Rover Model. Set up alien robots. Distribute Chart making duties.
DAY 2 Build Rover model….continued. Build 2 moon models for Mars (Phobos and Deimos)
Start making theoretical charts. (Mars planet, its moons, India’s first mission to Mars, PSLV and its
role in Mars Mission, Mangalyaan – Mars Rover)
DAY 3 Continue making theoretical charts. (Mars planet, its moons, India’s first mission to Mars, PSLV
and its role in Mars Mission, Mangalyaan – Mars Rover). Plan on oral presentations. Touch up
moons and mars model, if required.
DAY 4 Continue making theoretical charts. (Mars planet, its moons, India’s first mission to Mars, PSLV
and its role in Mars Mission, Mangalyaan – Mars Rover). Work and plan on smoke effect at the
entrance. Revise oral presentation plans. [complete and finish charts, if pending]
DAY 5 Test out the smoke effect at the entrance, ensuring efficiency. Test out alien robots, ensuring
efficiency. Final confirmation of placements of models and charts. Final rehearsal of theme week
day, with teachers as “guests”/ “audiences”.
