SOURCE: AFI
In a landmark decision for India’s space program, the Central Government has granted approval to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its ambitious Mars Lander Mission, officially known as Mangalyaan-2. This approval marks a significant step forward in India’s quest to expand its interplanetary exploration capabilities and solidify its position among the world’s leading spacefaring nations. Building on the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), or Mangalyaan-1, which made India the first Asian country to reach Martian orbit in 2014, Mangalyaan-2 aims to achieve an even more challenging feat: landing a spacecraft on the Red Planet.
The approval, announced on March 22, 2025, follows the Space Commission’s endorsement of the mission on February 21, 2025, and reflects the government’s commitment to advancing India’s space ambitions. Unlike its predecessor, which was an orbiter mission designed to study Mars from above, Mangalyaan-2 is poised to take India’s exploration efforts to the surface of Mars. The mission is expected to include a lander and a rover, with potential plans for a pioneering Martian helicopter, making it one of ISRO’s most complex undertakings to date.
If successful, Mangalyaan-2 will place India in an elite group of nations—the United States, Russia, and China—that have successfully landed spacecraft on Mars. This achievement would not only showcase India’s technological prowess but also contribute valuable scientific data to the global understanding of the Martian landscape, atmosphere, and potential for past life.
Mangalyaan-2 is designed to go beyond the orbital observations of MOM, which provided stunning images and critical data about Mars’ surface features, morphology, mineralogy, and atmosphere over its eight-year lifespan. The new mission will focus on in-situ exploration, with a lander and rover tasked with analyzing the Martian soil, studying its geology, and probing its climate. According to earlier reports, the mission may carry four key payloads:
- Mars Orbit Dust Experiment (MODEX): To study the origin, abundance, distribution, and flux of dust at high altitudes on Mars.
- Radio Occultation (RO) Experiment: To measure neutral and electron density profiles in the Martian atmosphere.
- Energetic Ion Spectrometer (EIS): To analyze the energetic particles in Mars’ environment.
- Langmuir Probe & Electric Field Experiment (LPEX): To investigate electric fields and plasma characteristics.
Additionally, ISRO has unveiled plans for innovative technologies, including a sky crane for a controlled rover landing—similar to NASA’s approach with its Curiosity and Perseverance rovers—and a helicopter akin to NASA’s Ingenuity. This rotorcraft, tentatively equipped with instruments like the Martian Boundary Layer Explorer (MarBLE), could conduct aerial surveys, offering unprecedented insights into Mars’ thin atmosphere and weather patterns.
One of ISRO’s hallmarks is its ability to execute ambitious missions at a fraction of the cost of its international counterparts. The original Mangalyaan mission, completed for a mere $74 million, stunned the world with its efficiency, outpacing NASA’s MAVEN orbiter, which cost $670 million. While exact budget details for Mangalyaan-2 are yet to be disclosed, ISRO’s track record suggests it will once again prioritize cost-effectiveness without compromising on scientific or technological goals. The mission will leverage India’s Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3), its heaviest rocket, capable of delivering the spacecraft on a direct trajectory to Mars.
While initial speculation pointed to a possible launch in 2024, the complexity of developing a lander, rover, and supporting technologies like the sky crane and supersonic parachute has pushed the timeline further. Recent estimates suggest a launch window no earlier than 2026, with some experts projecting a landing attempt closer to 2031, given the six-year preparation timeline typical for such missions. ISRO has yet to confirm an exact date, as the project remains in the planning and development phase, awaiting final refinements and Cabinet-level funding allocations.
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