Overview
- ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan announced the 2030 launch target, confirming the agency’s next Mars mission timeline.
- The mission shifts from an orbiter-only approach to an orbiter plus lander, with a possible small rover under study.
- Preliminary studies and design activities are underway at the Space Applications Centre and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
- Engineers are developing advanced propulsion, guidance, and landing capabilities to handle Mars’ thin atmosphere during descent.
- ISRO is exploring international partnerships for scientific instruments and data sharing, building on precedents such as Chandrayaan-3 and NISAR, while MOM’s 2013 success provides the programmatic foundation.