India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) Requires Extra Thruster Firing after Premature Engine Shutdown

universetoday.com ^ | November 11, 2013 | Ken Kremer on

[BenLurkin]

Monday’s engine firing only raised MOM’s apogee (farthest point to Earth) from 71,623 km to 78,276 km compared to the originally planned apogee of about 100,000 [1 lakh] km), said ISRO in a press release.

This is the first serious problem to strike MOM in space. And it seemed clear to me something might be amiss when ISRO failed to quickly announce a successful completion of the 4th firing as had been the pattern for the initial three burns.

The premature shutdown of the liquid fueled 440 Newton main engine “imparted an incremental velocity of 35 metres/second as against 130 metres/second originally planned,” ISRO stated.

That’s barely a quarter of what was hoped for.

“A supplementary orbit-raising operation is planned tomorrow (November 12, 2013) at 0500 hrs IST to raise the apogee to nearly 1 lakh [100,000] km.”

[shove_it]

I’ve had the same problem from time to time.

[al baby]

Both the bank and Mrs Al Baby penalize me for early withdrawal

[BenLurkin]

Hey........it could happen to anybody.

[CTyank]

“You’ve reached the age when you don’t back down from a challenge...”

“So why would you let something like supplementary orbit-raising operations get in your way....?”

[Hardraade]

MOM is taking Mars??

This is a task for...

Doctor Detroit!

[MediaMole]

Too funny. FR needs a like button.

Put one in and I’ll go monthly.

[BenLurkin]

Mars needs moms.

[shove_it]

MOM is in the headline. When MOM’s not happy, nobody’s happy.

[NoLibZone]

It’s known as the Howard Wolowitz premature sprtiz.

[NoLibZone]

Bazinga.

[cripplecreek]

[CTyank]

I must say - I despise those damn commercials.

I’ve yet to get the “What is ED? “ question from my 12 yr old daughter. I cringe and mute the TV every time that crap comes on.

Prime time sports is littered with that crap.

Being refugees from occupied NE, we’re still avid Red Sox(YES!!! Fear the Beard) and Pats fans - Celtics and Broooinz only somewhat.

[freebilly]

The jokes write themselves....

[BenLurkin]

Tell her it stands for Eminent Domain and then use the change of topic to tell her about how SCOTUS was wrong in the Kelo decision.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin, seems like a nice extra to X-Planets and APoD.

[SunkenCiv]

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India’s Mars Orbiter Mission plan. Image Credit: ISRO.

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The Indian Space Research Organization is planning on launching its first mission to Mars on Oct. 28. Credit: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

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[GATOR NAVY]

I don’t know much about the Indian space program. Was this a big step up for them?

[ThunderSleeps]

But if apogee lasts longer than 4 hours, seek an immediate release of pressure from the cryo tanks... ;-)

[cloudmountain]

India with a Mars orbiter??
Nah, NO SUCH THING!!
Impossible, nuh-uh, nope, not a chance!