Spacecraft Navigation

Trans Mars Injection (TMI), carried out on Dec 01, 2013 at 00:49 hrs (IST) has moved the
spacecraft in the Mars Transfer Trajectory (MTT). With TMI the Earth orbiting phase of
the spacecraft ended and the spacecraft is now on a course to encounter Mars after a journey of
about 10 months around the Sun

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C25, injected the Spacecraft into an Elliptical
Parking Orbit with a perigee of 250 km and an apogee of 23,550 km.

Further, six orbit raising manoeuvers gradually raised the apogee of the spacecraft to
1,92,874 km, using the 440 N Liquid Engine on board.

The last manoeuver, termed as Trans Mars Injection (TMI), moved the spacecraft in the
Mars Transfer Trajectory (MTT). Spacecraft crosses Earths Sphere of Influence (SOI)
and enters heliocentric elliptic cruise phase.

A series of Trajectory Correction Manoeuvres (TCMs) are planned in cruise phase,

using Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS) thrusters to achieve desired Mars
arrival conditions.

At the end of the heliocentric phase, Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) manoeuvre will be
carried out by firing the Liquid Engine onboard and the spacecraft will be inserted into
the intended Martian Orbit.
 The spacecraft will focus on in-depth study of morphology of the Martian surface and
probe the composition of its atmosphere and the space environment.