According to Asian Scientist, India's next space mission might be one to Mars, with a probe designed to orbit the red planet and to study it with a variety of instruments. This effort would be another feat for a burgeoning space power.
What would the Indian Mars probe do?
The Indian Mars probe is envisioned to be launched in one of the three upcoming Earth to Mars transit windows, in 2013, 2016 or 2018. If it were to be launched in November 2013, as many in India hope, it would arrive in Mars orbit in September 2014, assuming a highly elliptical orbit of 500 kilometers by 80,000 kilometers.
Ten instruments have been proposed for the Mars probe, of which a few will eventually be chosen. A color camera would image the Martian topography as well as events such as dust storms in real time. Most of the other proposed instruments would examine the Martian atmosphere.
What have been some of the previous Indian space feats?
The Indian Space Research Organization orbited a probe, Chandrayaan 1, around the moon in the November 2008 in a mission that lasted until August 2009. During its mission, Chandrayaan mapped minerals on the lunar surface, imaged the moon's landscape and discovered indications of ice at the lunar north and south poles.
Besides Chandrayaan, India has developed its own fleet of domestic launch vehicles and has launched numerous Earth satellites, scientific, commercial and military.
What are India's future plans in space?
Besides the Mars probe, India is developing Chandrayaan 2 to orbit the moon as well as to send a lander and rover to the lunar surface. India is also planning a solar research satellite called Aditya-1.
Through an Indian astronaut flew on a Soviet Soyuz mission in the mid-1980s, India is keen to develop its own domestic manned space program. An Indian space capsule, designed to hold three astronauts, would orbit the Earth for seven days after being launched a launch vehicle still under development.
Why is Indian interested in space exploration?
There are two reasons.
India is becoming an advance, technologically oriented nation, with its own domestic computer software industry. It is aware that space can be a driver for technological development, creating wealth and job opportunities.
The other reason is China, India's main rival in Asia, is a space power. China has launched its own lunar probe and a number of manned space flights leading to the future creation of a space station and an eventual manned lunar landing. In effect, India is joining an Asian space race with the prize of which country can become the supreme space power on that continent.
Mark R. Whittington is the author of Children of Apollo and The Last Moonwalker . He has written on space subjects for a variety of periodicals, including The Houston Chronicle, The Washington Post, USA Today, the L.A. Times, and The Weekly Standard.
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