ISRO Awaits Approval for Mangalyaan-2 Mars Landing Mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has submitted a proposal for Mangalyaan-2, India’s second mission to Mars, and is awaiting approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet. Unlike its predecessor, which was an orbital mission, Mangalyaan-2 is planned as a lander and rover mission, aiming to place India among the select nations that have successfully landed on the Martian surface.
The mission is expected to build on the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan-1, which was launched in 2013. The objective of Mangalyaan-2 is to conduct in-depth scientific studies on Mars’ surface and atmosphere. The mission will likely be launched aboard the LVM3 rocket, with a tentative timeline targeting 2026.
Mangalyaan-2 is expected to feature significant technological advancements, including a helicopter drone inspired by NASA’s Ingenuity, which successfully operated on Mars as part of the Perseverance rover mission. The drone is expected to improve data collection by accessing areas that would be difficult for a conventional rover to explore. The mission will also utilize a supersonic parachute and a sky crane landing system to ensure a precise touchdown on the Martian surface.
The proposal is currently under government review, with ISRO awaiting official sanction to move forward with the development and planning phases. The mission is part of India’s larger goal of expanding its interplanetary exploration program following the successes of the Chandrayaan missions and Mangalyaan-1. If approved, Mangalyaan-2 will reinforce India’s position as a major spacefaring nation with ambitions to push the boundaries of planetary exploration.
