Context: Recently, the ISRO confirmed that the Mars Orbiter craft has lost communication with ground station, it's non-recoverable and with this the Mangalyaan mission has attained end-of-life.

• It’s non-recoverable and the Mangalyaan mission has attained end-of-life.

Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM)

• The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), commonly referred to as Mangalyaan.

• Mangalyaan was launched in 2013 onboard PSLV-C25 as the first interplanetary mission from India, making ISRO the fourth space agency in the world to launch such a mission beyond Earth’s orbit.

• After completing 300 days of interplanetary journey, it was inserted to the Martian orbit on September 24, 2014.

• India is the first Asian nation to reach the Mars orbit and the first in the world to achieve it on its first attempt.

• Aim: Studying Martian atmosphere.

Objective: To explore Martian surface features, mineralogy, morphology, and atmosphere using indigenous scientific instruments.

• To develop technologies required in planning, designing, management and operations of an interplanetary mission.

MOM was designed for a lifespan of six months as a technology demonstrator. However, it lived for about eight years in the Martian orbit with significant scientific results on Mars as well as on the Solar corona.

• Significant scientific understanding on the Martian surface features, morphology, as well as the Martian atmosphere and exosphere

• On September 27, 2022, MOM completed eight years in the Martian orbit.