INDIAN SPACESHIP
DESIGN FOR
PLANET MARS
ABSTRACT
The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) commonly referred to as MANGALYAN – 1, is a space exploration
launched by ISRO on November 5, 2013. This mission aims to study the Martian (Alien) surface and
atmosphere from orbit Mars.
WHY DO WE NEED TO EXPLORE MARS?
- Mars is a fascinating planet that can provide a valuable insights in the history of our solar system and
the possibility of life beyond Earth.
- Mars is considered to be the most promising places to search evidences of past and present life
beyond Earth.
- Our scientist believe that there is a possibility of life in Mars.
1. The mission plans to investigate whether microbial life existed on Mars billions of years ago and
therefore that life is not unique to Planet Earth.
2. As noted by Chris McKay, a research scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Science Center, that
would be an extraordinary discovery. “Right here in our solar system, if life started twice, that
tells us some amazing things about our universe,” he pointed out. “It means the universe is full of
life. Life becomes a natural feature of the universe, not just a quirk of this odd little planet
around this star.” (Extracted the two points from Brookings Institution Website)
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
❖ WHAT ARE NASA'S 4 GOALS FOR MARS EXPLORATION?
Goal 1: Characterize the Climate of Mars.
Goal 2: Characterize the Geology of Mars.
Goal 3: Prepare for the Human Exploration of Mars.
Goal 4: Determine if Life Ever Arose On Mars.
(Extracted from the website NASA Mars exploration)
❖ WILL NASA SEND HUMANS TO MARS?
NASA has planned three such missions to be sent to Mars. The American space agency is planning
three such analog missions to better understand the requirements for a habitat on our next-door
cosmic neighbour. While analog mission one commences this year, the second mission will be
conducted in 2025 and the third mission will be followed up in 2026.
(Extracted from LIVE mint Website)
❖ IS MARS EXPLORATION WORTH THE INVESTMENT?
Mars is a valuable place for exploration because it can be reached in 6 ½ months, is a major
opportunity for scientific exploration, and has been mapped and studied for several decades.
(Extracted from the website Brookings Institution)
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
❖ WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS NEEDED FOR MARS? (Extracted from website The European Space Agency)
1 automated guidance, navigation and control and mission analysis
2 micro-avionics
3 data processing and communication technologies
4 entry, descent and landing
5 crew aspects of exploration
6 in situ resources utilisation
7 power
8 propulsion
9 robotics and mechanisms
10 structures, materials and thermal control
11 instrumentation
METHODS
There are several propulsion systems that can be used for Mars Mission Spacecraft
1. CHEMICAL ROCKETS :-
It is broadly divided into
- Liquid Fuel Rockets
- Solid Fuel Rockets
Liquid Fuel Rockets - In a liquid rocket, stored fuel and stored oxidizer are pumped into a combustion
chamber where they are mixed and burned. The combustion produces great amounts of exhaust gas at
high temperature and pressure. The hot exhaust is passed through a nozzle which accelerates the flow.
Solid Fuel Rockets - A solid fuel rocket has its fuel and oxidant mixed together as fine powders and then
pressed in to a solid 'cake'. Once it has been lit it will carry on burning until it is used up. In a black
powder rocket the fuel is carbon and the oxidant, potassium nitrate.
METHODS
2. Iron Thrusters –
1. Ion thrusters are classified into 2 types based, on the method used for accelerating the ions—
- Electrostatic ion thrusters use the Coulomb force.
- Electromagnetic ion thrusters use the Lorentz force.
The method of accelerating the ions varies, but all designs take advantage of the charge-to-mass
ratio of the ions. This ratio means that relatively small potential differences can create high exhaust
velocities. This reduces the amount of reaction mass of propellant required but increases the
amount of specific power required compared to chemical rockets. Ion thrusters are therefore able
to achieve high specific impulses. The drawback of the low thrust is low acceleration because the
mass of the electric power unit directly correlates with the amount of power. This low thrust makes
ion thrusters unsuited for launching spacecraft into orbit, but effective for in-space propulsion.
(Extracted from the space techie website)
METHODS
3. VASIMAR (Variable Specific Impulse Magneto plasma Rocket) –
During more than 40 years of spaceflight, a lot of things have changed. Today's Space Shuttle is a
luxury ship compared to the Mercury capsules that carried the first American astronauts into space.
Forty years ago, a lot of people might have had a hard time believing that Americans and Russians
would be living together in space on one Space Station. Space probes have visited every planet except
Pluto , a mission there is currently being planned.
One thing that has changed very little, however, is the way rockets work. While different fuels have
been used, and new rocket engines are more high-tech than older ones, the basic concepts involved
are basically the same. But NASA researches are working on a way to change that, as well.
NASA researchers believe that VASIMR would be able to travel to Mars much more quickly than a
contemporary chemical-powered rocket, and then, once there, to refuel on Mars for the return flight
to Earth. The VASIMR engine could also even help protect astronauts from the dangerous effects of
radiation during their trip. In the less-distant future, VASIMR could even help keep the International
Space Station in orbit without requiring extra fuel to be brought up from Earth.
(Extracted from NASA (.gov) website)
METHODS
METHODS
4. Nuclear Thermal Rockets –
Nuclear thermal propulsion is one technology that can provide high thrust and double the propellant
efficiency of chemical rockets, making it a viable option for crewed missions to Mars. The system works
by transferring heat from the reactor directly to a gaseous hydrogen propellant. Heated hydrogen
expands through a nozzle to provide thrust to propel a spacecraft.
Today’s advances in materials, testing capabilities, and reactor development are providing momentum
for NASA, in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE), to mature functional nuclear thermal
propulsion components needed to support a subscale engine demonstration.
Fast facts:
1. Nuclear thermal propulsion has been on NASA’s radar for more than 60 years.
2. Nuclear thermal propulsion could allow for more flexible abort scenarios, allowing crew to return to
Earth at multiple times, if needed, including immediately upon arrival at Mars.
3. Materials inside the fission reactor must be able to survive temperatures above 4,600 degrees
Fahrenheit.
(Extracted from NASA (.gov) website)
FINDINGS
HOW DO ROCKETS WORK?
- By Newton’s Third Law – For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Naturally, launching rockets into space is more complicated than Newton’s laws of motion imply.
Designing rockets that can actually lift off Earth and reach orbital velocities or interplanetary space is an
extremely complicated process.
Newton’s laws are the beginning, but many other things come into play. For example, air pressure plays
an important role while the rocket is still in the atmosphere. The internal pressure produced by burning
rocket propellants inside the rocket engine combustion chamber has to be greater than the outside
pressure to escape through the engine nozzle. In a sense, the outside air is like a cork in the engine. It
takes some of the pressure generated inside the engine just to exceed the ambient outside pressure.
Consequently, the velocity of combustion products passing through the opening or throat of the nozzle is
reduced. The good news is that as the rocket climbs into space, the ambient pressure becomes less and
less as the atmosphere thins and the engine thrust increases.
(Extracted from NASA (.gov) website)
FINDINGS
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO MARS?
- Distance between the two plants can vary greatly, so the length of the time to get to Mars is not
always the same.
- 55 million kms – 400 million kms
- This distance is known as ‘Mars Opposition’ and occurs approximately every 26 months.
- During that journey, engineers have several opportunities to adjust the spacecraft's flight path, to
make sure its speed and direction are best for arrival at Jezero Crater on Mars.
- A Hohmann transfer between Earth and Mars takes around 259 days (between eight and nine
months) and is only possible approximately every two years due to the different orbits around the
Sun of Earth and Mars.
- The two fastest travel times from Earth to Mars are for the Viking 6 and Viking 7 spacecraft, which
took 155 and 128 days respectively.
FINDINGS
MISSIONS TO MARS
- Mariner 4 (1964) – Time taken 228 or 7.5 months.
- Mariner 9 (1971) – Time taken 168 days or 5.5 months.
- Spirit/Opportunity (2003) – Time taken : (Spirit) – 9 months.
(Opportunity) – 7 months.
- Curiosity (2011) – Time taken 10 months.
- Perseverance (2020) – Time taken 7 months.
MISSION LAUNCHED BY INDIA TO MARS
- The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), unofficially known as Mangalyaan, (from Sanskrit: Mangala,
"Mars" and yāna, "craft, vehicle") was a space probe orbiting Mars since 24 September 2014. It was
launched on 5 November 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- The country will also launch a second Mars orbiter mission.
FINDINGS
FINDINGS
SIZE AND COMPARISION OF MARS SPACESHIP
FINDINGS
Entry, Descent and Landing
CONCLUSION
Mars, with its similarities to Earth and its potential for
harboring life, continues to captivate our curiosity.
The ongoing exploration of this fascinating planet not
only expands our understanding of the universe but
also propels us towards becoming a multi-planetary
species. As we continue to explore Mars, we may not
only answer the age-old question of whether we are
alone in the universe but also set the stage for our
future as space explorers.
(Extracted from Aspiring youth website)
APPENDICES
● Liquid Fuel Rockets and Solid Fuel Rockets – Britannica
Website
● Ion Propulsion System - Beyond NERVA Website
● VASIMAR – Wikipedia website
● Nuclear Thermal Rockets – ScienceDirect Website
● Newton’s Third Law - NASA (.gov) Website
● Size and comparison - SpacePolicyOnline Website
● Entry, Descent and Landing – NASA Mars Exploration Website
Name: M.Jodha Smrithi
Class: 10TH Grade
School Name: Visvodaya CBSE
School, Visakhapatnam, Andhra
Pradesh.
