Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) Completes One Revolution Around Mars, Scientist Says

The Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) has completed its first revolution around the planet Mars. The iconic orbiter also referred to as Mangalyaan is orbiting Mars since September 2014. This means that one year on Mars is almost two years on the planet Earth.

Ritu Karidhal, the deputy operation director of Bengaluru-based MOM ISRO Satellite Center, said that the span of two years on Earth nearly equals to one on Mars. She further said that the Mangalyaan or MOM, which entered the orbit of Mars around two years ago, has completed one revolution. She added that the data being sent by it over a period of last two years is being studied by ISRO for analyzing atmospheric configuration, as noted by Times of India.

#ISRO Rilasciato il primo set di dati della missione Mars Orbiter Mission (#MOM)https://t.co/B3FIpHBJzT pic.twitter.com/E6goIoFNcZ

— Alive Universe (@_AliveUniverse) September 25, 2016

The data could also uncover the visibility of carbon content, if any, in the atmosphere of the planet Mars. Karidhal said that if Mars has methane or any form of carbon in its atmosphere, it would likely have the life as it hopes to have had in the past.

MOM could stay in the space for at least 5 to 10 years. It does not have any fuel system that could support its existence. On the other hand, it is driven by its various components. These would decide the future life of MOM, according to Karidhal.

The Indian Space Research Organization launched the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) on Nov. 5, 2013. This made ISRO the fourth space agency to reach Mars. It is also the first Asian nation to reach Mars' orbit. MOM was lifted off from the First Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andra Pradesh using the Polar Satellite Launch vehicle on Nov. 5, 2013.