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Mars Orbiter Mission's initial orbit The initial, equatorial orbit of Mars orbiter mission will approach to within 423 kilometers of the surface at periapsis and stretch to 80,000 kilometers away at apoapsis. Even at periapsis, it will orbit above Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Mars Express does have an elliptical orbit, but it is near-polar and from 300 to 10,000 kilometers. Since its periapsis is not at the equator, Mars Express and Mars Orbiter Mission will not approach each other in the sky. ISRO