Launching of Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraft
India's first interplanetary spacecraft, Mars Orbiter Mission was successfully launched on November 05, 2013 at 14:38 hrs (IST), by India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C25, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The Mars Orbiter spacecraft had successfully escaped the Earth’s Sphere of Influence on December 04, 2013 and started its journey of 680 million km to Mars.
The Mars Orbiter spacecraft is now on its course towards Mars. As on 14th July, 2014, it has successfully completed the journey of about 531 million km out of 680 million km. All systems and payloads on-board Mars Orbiter spacecraft are performing normally. The spacecraft is expected to be placed in the Martian orbit on 24th September 2014.
This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Science and Technology, M/o Earth Sciences, D/o Atomic Energy and D/o Space Dr. Jitendra Singh in reply to a written question in the Rajya Saha today.
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ST/jk-