Mars Orbiter Mission 2

Summary

Mars Orbiter Mission 2 (MOM 2), is a proposed second mission to Mars by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).[3] In a recorded interview in October 2019, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director indicated the possibility of inclusion of a lander,[2] but in an interview to The Times Of India in February 2021 the ISRO chairman clarified that the mission will consist solely of an orbiter.[6] The orbiter will use aerobraking to lower its initial apoapsis and enter into an orbit more suitable for observations.[7][8][9]

Mars Orbiter Mission 2
NamesMOM 2
Mission typeMars orbiter
OperatorISRO
Mission duration1 year (proposed)
Spacecraft properties
BusI-3K
ManufacturerISAC
Payload mass≈100 kg (220 lb)[1][needs update]
Start of mission
Launch dateTBD[2][3]
RocketLVM3[4][2]
Launch siteSDSC/SHAR
ContractorISRO
Mars orbiter
Orbital parameters
Periareon altitude200 km (120 mi)[5]
Apoareon altitude2,000 km (1,200 mi)[5]
 

History edit

Following the successful insertion of the Mars Orbiter Mission (also called Mangalyaan) into Martian orbit, ISRO announced its intent to launch a second mission to Mars at the Engineers Conclave conference held in Bengaluru on 28 October 2014.[10] The proposed launch vehicle for this campaign is the LVM3, which flew for the first time on 5 June 2017, and might be powerful enough to place MOM on a direct-to-Mars trajectory alongside much heavier satellites, unlike the lighter Mars Orbiter Mission, which used a less powerful PSLV XL rocket.[11]

In January 2016, India and France signed a letter of intent for ISRO and CNES to jointly build MOM 2 by 2020,[12] but by April 2018, France was not yet involved in the mission.[13] The Indian government funded MOM 2 in its 2017 budget proposal, and ISRO was considering whether the best path would be to conduct an orbiter/lander/rover mission or to opt for only an orbiter with more sophisticated instruments than those flown on MOM.[9] In a podcast recording, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre director S. Somanath in October 2019 reported the architecture for mission was yet to be finalized and may also have a lander and rover, but no timeline was announced.[2]

In February 2021, ISRO called for an 'Announcement of Opportunities' on MOM 2. In it, K. Sivan announced that Mangalyaan 2 will only be an orbiter mission.[14][15]

Development edit

An Announcement of Opportunity was released requesting submissions for scientific instruments for an orbiter only, with a deadline set for 20 September 2016.[16][17] The total science payload mass is estimated at 100 kg (220 lb).[1]

One of the science payloads under development is an ionosphere plasma instrument named ARIS. It is being developed by Space Satellite Systems and Payloads Centre (SSPACE), which is part of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST). The engineering model and high vacuum test have been completed.[18]

In a panel discussion in September 2022, it was told that mission would include a hyperspectral camera, a very high resolution panchromatic camera and a radar to better understand the early stages of Mars, its early crust, recent basalts, and ongoing activities such as boulder falls.[19]

Payloads edit

The mission will consist of four main payloads. [20]

  • Mars Orbit Dust Experiment (MODEX): It will measure the origin, abundance, distribution, and flux at high altitudes on Mars. There are no measurements of Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) at Mars. The instrument can detect particles of size from a few hundred nm to few µm, travelling at hypervelocity (> 1 km/s). The outcomes can help explain the dust flux at Mars, whether there is any ring (as hypothesized) around Mars and also confirm whether the dust is interplanetary or coming from Phobos or Deimos.
  • Radio Occultation experiment (RO): It will measure neutral and electron Density profiles. The MODEX can help explain the RO experiment results. The instrument is a microwave transmitter operating at X-band frequency that can help understand the behaviour of the Martian atmosphere.
  • Energetic Iron Spectrometer (EIS): It will study the solar energy particles and Supra-thermal solar winds on Mars. The data will be useful to understand the loss of Martian atmosphere.
  • Langmuir probe and Electric Field Experiment (LPEX): It will measure the electron number, density, electron temperature and electric field waves. This experiment consists of one Langmuir probe (LP) and two electric field (EF) sensors each mounted on a long boom.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b MOM Orbiter enters 6th year, ISRO eyes Mangalyaan-2. Rasheed Kappan, The Deccan Herald. 25 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Episode 90 – An update on ISRO's activities with S Somanath and R Umamaheshwaran". AstrotalkUK. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  3. ^ a b Jatiya, Satyanarayan (18 July 2019). "Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2955" (PDF). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  4. ^ Fattah, Md Saim (29 October 2014). "India plans second Mars mission in 2018". News18. IANS. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b Ramani, Chitra V. (10 August 2016). "ISRO sets the ball rolling for Mars Mission-2". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  6. ^ Singh, Surendra (20 February 2021). "It's tough to land on Mars, Nasa did a good job; our 2nd Mars mission will be an orbital one: Isro chief - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  7. ^ Laxman, Srinivas (29 October 2016). "With 82 launches in a go, Isro to rocket into record books". The Times of India. Times News Network. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  8. ^ Haider, Syed A.; et al. (2018). "Indian Mars and Venus Missions: Science and Exploration" (PDF). Scientific Assembly Abstracts. 42rd Committee on Space Research Scientific Assembly. 14–22 July 2018. Pasadena, California. p. 432. B4.1-0010-18. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018.{{cite conference}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ a b Bagla, Pallava (17 February 2017). "India eyes a return to Mars and a first run at Venus". Science. AAAS. doi:10.1126/science.aal0781. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  10. ^ "We plan to launch 2nd Mars Mission in 2018, says ISRO satellite Centre Director". Business Today. Indo-Asian News Service. 30 October 2014. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  11. ^ Singh, Surendra (6 June 2017). "GSLV Mk III breaks Isro's jinx of failure in debut rocket launches". The Times of India. Times News Network. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  12. ^ Singh, Kanishk (28 January 2016). "India's French Connection: CNES and ISRO jointly will develop Mangalyaan 2". The TeCake. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  13. ^ Singh, Surendra (17 April 2018). "India, France to work together on inter-planetary missions". The Times of India. Times News Network. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  14. ^ Rawat, Mukesh (20 February 2021). "Isro says India's second Mars mission Mangalyaan-2 will be an orbiter mission". India Today. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  15. ^ "India's next Mars mission likely to be an orbiter". The Week. PTI. 19 February 2021. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for future Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM-2)" (Press release). Indian Space Research Organisation. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  17. ^ "ISRO seeking proposals for Mars Orbiter Mission-2". The Indian Express. 26 November 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  18. ^ Rajwi, Tiki (19 July 2018). "ISRO's space academy eyeing Mars and Venus". The New Indian Express. Express News Service. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  19. ^ Neeraj Srivastava; S. Vijayan; Amit Basu Sarbadhikari (27 September 2022), "Future Exploration of the Inner Solar System: Scope and the Focus Areas", Planetary Sciences Division (PSDN), Physical Research Laboratory – via ISRO Facebook Panel Discussion, Mars Orbiter Mission National Meet
  20. ^ Pillai, Soumya (2 October 2023). "ISRO begins preparation for India's 2nd mission to Mars". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2023.