The other day, representatives of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), in their presentation at the Space Solutions Center in Gujarat, announced that preparations are continuing to send a rover and helicopter to Mars as soon as possible. Some sources claim that the mission could start at the end of 2024, which is hard to believe because there are still many unresolved issues in the project. In any case, India wants Mars and is ready to prove it.

India sent the first interplanetary automatic station to Mars, which happened in 2014. Actually, this was a demonstration platform. However, the station reached Mars orbit and operated until 2022, which no one expected from it. With all this, ISRO specialists managed to create an apparatus that solves the tasks assigned to them for only 75 million and a half years. Last year, India landing a station and a lunar rover on the Moon and sending an automatic observatory to the Sun only confirmed the ability of Indian scientists and engineers to implement world-class space programs; should be repeated.

ISRO’s second mission to Mars is called Mars Orbiter Mission-2 (MOM-2) or Mangalyaan-2 – “Mars ship” in Hindi. The lander will use a supersonic parachute, or “sky crane” (similar to NASA’s jet-powered platform to provide additional braking to the lander) to safely lower the rover onto the Red Planet’s surface during the final descent phase, and will be equipped with: A helicopter for flights on Marcia Indian scientists were inspired by the success of the NASA Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, which operated on the planet for more than 1,000 days.

According to previous reports, Mangalyaan-2 will carry at least four scientific instruments designed to study the early history of Mars, analyze its atmosphere and investigate a hypothetical ring of dust around the planet formed by its two moons Phobos and Deimos. According to Indian media reports, the mission could be launched by the end of this year; This seems unlikely given that many key components, including the multi-role helicopter, landing platform, and supersonic parachute, are still under development. ISRO is yet to make an official announcement about the timing of the mission.