Question

The Mars Orbiter Mission of India is popularly known as:

• A. Chandrayaan
• B. Gaganyaan
• C. Mangalyaan
• D. Suryaan

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Mangalyaan

• Mission Name: The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) is globally referred to as Mangalyaan, derived from the Sanskrit words 'Mangala' (Mars) and 'Yaana' (vehicle/craft).
• Launch Details: Launched on November 5, 2013, by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) using the PSLV-C25 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
• Historical Significance: India became the first nation in the world to reach Mars orbit on its maiden attempt and the first Asian nation to achieve this feat.
• Orbital Insertion: The spacecraft successfully entered Mars' orbit on September 24, 2014, making India the fourth space agency to reach the Red Planet after Roscosmos, NASA, and the ESA.
• Technical Achievement: Known for being one of the most cost-effective space missions ever, it was completed on a budget of approximately ₹450 crore ($74 million), which is significantly lower than similar international missions.
• Scientific Payload: The mission carried five scientific instruments, including the Mars Color Camera (MCC), Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP), and Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM), designed to study Martian surface features, morphology, mineralogy, and the atmosphere.
• Duration: Initially designed for a mission life of six months, the orbiter functioned for nearly eight years, maintaining communication until it lost power in April 2022.