Isro’s Mars Orbiter Mission marks 3 years in Martian orbit
By Hemanth CS
Isro’sMars Orbiter Mission (MOM ) on September 24 achieved a significant milestone as it completed three years in the Martian orbit.
On Monday, the space agency announced the release of the MOM second year science data.
Isro released MOM second year science data from September 24, 2014 to September 23, 2016, and it has been made available for users, who have registered with the space agency to access the data.
ISRO launched MOM on November 5, 2013, and a year later on September 24 after completing a 300-day journey, it got inserted into the Martian orbit.
Isro had won accolades among the space faring nations at as MOM was the first Mars mission in the world to succeed Mars Orbit Insertion in its first attempt. Though it was intended to have a mission life of only six months, the mission defied all odds and in June this year, MOM completed 1,000Earth days in the Martian orbit.
1,000 Earth days corresponds to 973.24 MarsSols (Martian Solar day).
Its 1,000-day stay at the Martian orbit was also eventful as MOM went through a communication ‘blackout’ as a result of solar conjunction from June 2, 2015 to July 2, 2015.
It also experienced the ‘whiteout’ geometry during May 18 to May 30, 2016. A ‘whiteout’ occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and Mars and too much solar radiation may make it impossible to communicate with the Earth. The spacecraft emerged out of both the blackout and whiteout period successfully.
Last year, Isro released the MOM’s first year (September 24, 2014 to September 23, 2015) data.
Isro’s
On Monday, the space agency announced the release of the MOM second year science data.
ISRO launched MOM on November 5, 2013, and a year later on September 24 after completing a 300-day journey, it got inserted into the Martian orbit.
Isro had won accolades among the space faring nations at as MOM was the first Mars mission in the world to succeed Mars Orbit Insertion in its first attempt. Though it was intended to have a mission life of only six months, the mission defied all odds and in June this year, MOM completed 1,000
1,000 Earth days corresponds to 973.24 Mars
Its 1,000-day stay at the Martian orbit was also eventful as MOM went through a communication ‘blackout’ as a result of solar conjunction from June 2, 2015 to July 2, 2015.
It also experienced the ‘whiteout’ geometry during May 18 to May 30, 2016. A ‘whiteout’ occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and Mars and too much solar radiation may make it impossible to communicate with the Earth. The spacecraft emerged out of both the blackout and whiteout period successfully.
Last year, Isro released the MOM’s first year (September 24, 2014 to September 23, 2015) data.
