ISRO successfully performs first TCM on Mars Orbiter
Chennai: The first Trajectory Correction Manoeuvre of India's maiden mission to Mars was yesterday carried out successfully by ISRO scientists on the spacecraft, which is presently travelling some 2.9 million kms away from Earth. “The
During the Trajectory Correction Manoeuvre, accelerometers on board MOM gives the information when the desired delta-v is achieved,” it said.
Earlier, the spacecraft was rotated from its nominal orientation to the orientation required for the first TCM.
Today's correction was carried out by the computer on board the spacecraft, since the amount of time required for the signal to go and return was about 20 seconds, as MOM was already travelling about some 2.9 million km away, ISRO said.
“MOM team is gaining hands-on experience in handling the communication delay as it keeps increasing gradually,” it said.
Four TCMs are planned to fine tune the trajectory of the spacecraft so as to keep it in the precise intended track.
ISRO had earlier said MOM was not taking the shortest to the Red Planet, since accelerating and later decelerating to match the planet's speed would require an extremely large amount of fuel in that option.
Earlier, the spacecraft was rotated from its nominal orientation to the orientation required for the first TCM.
Today's correction was carried out by the computer on board the spacecraft, since the amount of time required for the signal to go and return was about 20 seconds, as MOM was already travelling about some 2.9 million km away, ISRO said.
“MOM team is gaining hands-on experience in handling the communication delay as it keeps increasing gradually,” it said.
Four TCMs are planned to fine tune the trajectory of the spacecraft so as to keep it in the precise intended track.
ISRO had earlier said MOM was not taking the shortest to the Red Planet, since accelerating and later decelerating to match the planet's speed would require an extremely large amount of fuel in that option.