How ISRO Plans to Land Mangalyaan-2 on Mars

ISRO's Mars Lander Mission (MLM) (unofficially called Mangalyaan-2) mission is set to be India's first attempt at landing on Mars, marking a significant leap in interplanetary exploration. Unlike its predecessor, which was an orbiter, this mission will include a lander and a helicopter for surface exploration.

Key Landing Strategy:

1. Launch & Cruise Stage: The spacecraft will be launched aboard the LVM3 rocket and initially placed in an Earth orbit of 190 x 35,786 km. From there, a Cruise Stage will propel it toward Mars.
2. Direct Entry Approach: Upon reaching Mars, the Descent Stage will detach and make a direct atmospheric entry, skipping the need for orbiting before landing.
3. Aerobraking & Parachutes: To slow down, ISRO will use aerobraking, leveraging the Martian atmosphere to reduce velocity. A heat-protective aeroshell and supersonic parachutes will help manage the intense atmospheric friction.
4. Final Descent & Touchdown: At 1.3 km above the surface, the lander will activate its powered descent system, using onboard engines to ensure a soft and precise landing.

If successful, Mangalyaan-2 will place India among the elite nations that have landed on Mars, providing invaluable data for future missions. While ISRO has yet to confirm a launch date, the mission's complexity highlights India's growing capabilities in space exploration.

An illustration of NASA's Perseverance rover landing safely on Mars. Hundreds of critical events must execute perfectly and exactly on time for the rover to land safely on Feb. 18, 2021. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Mangalyaan-2 is a major upgrade from India's first Mars mission, Mangalyaan-1. Unlike Mangalyaan-1, which was an orbiter, Mangalyaan-2 will include a lander and a helicopter to explore the Martian surface. 

The new mission can carry 7 times more payload than its Mangalyaan-1, allowing for more sophisticated scientific instruments. Instead of orbiting Mars first, Mangalyaan-2 will make a direct atmospheric entry before landing. 

This mission marks India's first attempt at landing on another planet, putting ISRO in an elite group of space agencies.

Exciting, right? What aspect of the mission interests you the most?