ISRO, the Indian Space Agency, has confirmed that the Indian space probe Mangalyaan, officially called the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), has entered the orbit of Mars. The thrusters of the spacecraft were switched on for 24 minutes to slow it down at the right speed to get into an elliptical orbit with a period of 3.2 days.

About two days ago, MOM completed a key test with a short burn of the main engine. It was only a four seconds burn but confirmed that the engine was working properly. The probe was ready to begin the final stage of its journey to Mars, the first Indian probe to do it.

The Mangalyaan space probe has five instruments with the purpose of studying in various ways Mars atmosphere and the surface. It’s scheduled to begin its instruments check-up operations immediately. The first pictures of Mars should be taken during the first day of the mission and then proceed with the preparation of its instruments for the following detections.

MOM’s activities are monitored by the Indian Deep Space Network (ISDN) but also by the NASA’s JPL Deep Space Network (DSN) because this mission, despite being 100% Indian, is also actively supported the American space agency. ISRO and NASA are working together because MOM has some goals in common with various NASA missions including that of the MAVEN spacecraft.

MOM also aims to showcase Indian technologies: ISRO wants to grow as an agency that provides satellite launch services and now can claim that it can send them even on Mars! For India it’s an important market considering the amount of satellites, especially for telecommunications but also for other purposes, which are launched in different orbits.

India became the first Asian nation to have successfully sent a spacecraft into Mars orbit. Its relationship with China has been quite cold for years but lately seems to be improving. In recent days, ISRO has signed an agreement with the China National Space Administration to work on new space missions together. India is a nation to be followed in the field of space programs!

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