Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully realigned the orbit of its Mars Orbiter Mission ‘Mangalyaan’ so it is not affected by long-duration eclipse.
The correction in the trajectory of Mangalyaan was required to keep the power supply strong during the eclipse — caused by shadow of Mars falling on it for 7-8 hours — so that it could continue to function longer, as Mangalyaan’s battery cannot support long-duration eclipse.
No effect of the eclipse was felt on Mangalyaan. The experiment was successful. The spacecraft still has 30 kg fuel left, and with realignment we expect it to work for a very long time to come.
The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also called Mangalyaan is a space probe orbiting Mars since 24 September 2014. It was launched on 5 November 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
It is India’s first interplanetary mission and ISRO has become the fourth space agency to reach Mars, after the Soviet space program, NASA, and the European Space Agency.
It is the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit, and the first nation in the world to do so in its first attempt.
