Blog Archive

ISRO's Mars mission now undergoing assembly and testing; NASA, ISRO agree to future space science cooperation

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/04/01 02:36 CDT | 1 comments

India's Mars Orbiter Mission has been much in the news in Asian media over the last week as a result of the release of ISRO's Annual Report 2012-2013. Also, ISRO and NASA issued a joint statement from Washington a week ago endorsing interagency cooperation in the space sciences

What's Up in the Solar System diagram by Olaf Frohn (updated for May 2013)

Looking ahead to spacecraft activities in 2013

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/01/04 01:09 CST | 3 comments

2013 is going to be a busy year in space exploration. Two missions launch to the Moon (LADEE and Chang'E 3), and another two to Mars (MAVEN and India's mission). Curiosity should drive to the Mountain, and Opportunity to the next site on Endeavour's rim. Cassini will be seeing rings and Titan. Others should continue routine operations, except maybe MESSENGER, whose fate after March is not yet decided.

Updates on ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission: five instruments to be delivered in March

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/01/04 11:27 CST | 2 comments

Several news articles appeared in Indian media today about the upcoming launch of ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission. Five instruments have been selected, and their delivery is expected in March.

Mangalyaan update: Testing of main engine underway

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/10/09 11:25 CDT | 1 comments

A report in the Times of India states that India's Mars mission's main engine is now being tested.

Mangalyaan, India's 2013 Mars mission, is now under construction

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/09/27 12:33 CDT | 10 comments

In August, India's prime minister announced the intent to build and launch a Mars orbiter in time for the November 2013 launch window, an insanely fast schedule. The structure of the spacecraft has now been delivered.