The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a historic mission: landing a rover and helicopter on Mars! This audacious feat, currently only achieved by the US and China, aims to solidify India's place as a major space player.
The many features and objectives of the Mangalyaan-2 mission were presented on National Technology Day at the Space Application Centre last week. India's heaviest rocket — the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) will facilitate this mission’s launch.
Let’s take a look at what this illustrious mission will entail.
Landing like a boss with a sky crane and supersonic parachute
Forget airbags and ramps! ISRO's rover will arrive on Mars in style, courtesy of a sophisticated sky crane. Inspired by NASA's successful Perseverance rover landing and probably Tom Cruise’s in Mission Impossible, this ingenious system will gently lower the rover onto the Martian surface, ensuring a safe and precise touchdown even in tricky terrain. And to survive the fiery descent through the Martian atmosphere, ISRO is developing a supersonic parachute – a crucial piece of technology for this daring mission.
Taking flight on Mars with a special helicopter
The real showstopper might be the helicopter that ISRO is designing for the mission. Indian engineers are busy crafting this rotorcraft specifically designed to fly in the thin Martian atmosphere. This high-tech marvel will carry a suite of scientific instruments, including "MarBLE" (Martian Boundary Layer Explorer), which will study the Martian atmosphere during its daring 100-metre flights.
Staying connected with a relay satellite
Maintaining steady communication with your parents while living in a different city may get challenging due to subpar mobile reception. But ISRO will be able to do so with the Mangalyaan spacecraft even while it is over 200 kilometres away from Earth!
To ensure seamless communication with the wandering rover and helicopter, ISRO plans to deploy a relay satellite ahead of the mission. This crucial link will act as a bridge between Mars and Earth, guaranteeing uninterrupted data flow and mission control.
With a powerful Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) propelling the mission toward Mars, ISRO's second attempt promises to be a technological marvel. This ambitious project not only showcases India's growing space prowess but also paves the way for further exploration of our cosmic neighbour. So, stay tuned as India takes its giant leap for Martian exploration – it's sure to be a thrilling ride!
