A date with Mars

 

National Geographic Channel’s “Mangalyaan: India’s Mission to Mars” makes one proud of India’s scientific achievements

The first anniversary of India’s Mangalyaan, the Mars Orbiter Mission which fell on September 24, is a definite reason for the country to celebrate in the midst of all its problems and difficulties. Making this possible right at our homes is the telecast of National Geographic Channel’s (NGC) special Mangalyaan: India’s Mission to Mars made in cooperation with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today. Besides covering the inception and the 650 million kilometre journey, the show also deconstructs and simplifies the science behind the mission. Says Swati Mohan, Business Head, Fox International Channels (India): “This exclusive premiere contains live action visuals, graphic representations and expert interviews. All of this encapsulates the tensions, excitement, last minute preparations, the countdown and the successful launch.”

Announced by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during his Independence Day address in 2012, the entire project was planned and executed to ensure rendezvous with Mars on September 24 last year –– an inter-planetary feat hardly expected of India. “Nobody believed that India would be able to do this mission. Even after the announcement of the launch date, there were doubts and nobody was taking us seriously. Only after the launch they realised that we can do it,” explains A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman ISRO.

The one-hour NGC film is a comprehensive journey which takes the viewer right from the expedition’s conception and planning stage, highlighting the difficulties encountered while encompassing the launch, the monitoring and the final appointment with the red planet. The orbiter completed in a record time of 15 months cost 74 million dollars. In comparison National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s 670 million dollar Maven was much costlier. Observes Pallav Bagla, co-author of “21st Century Asian Space Race” in the special that the Indian success story impressed upon the world that interplanetary exploration is possible at less than 100 million dollars.

The unravelling of this highly scientific space mission in simple terms is the highlight of the show. For example, V. Adimurthy, Chairman of Mars Orbiter Mission Study Team, explains the orbiter’s movement from the earth’s sphere of influence by demonstrating the circular swinging motion of a ball.

The nail-biting show makes one feels proud of ISRO becoming the fourth space agency in the world and the India the first Asian country to probe Mars the main take away was aptly summed by K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman ISRO who feels that the achievement has kindled young minds to take up science and imbibed a feeling among Indians that they can do what is considered impossible.

Commending ISRO, Swati notes that without their support the film would not have been possible. “They opened up avenues for us so that we could do justice to the programme.”

(To be aired on NGC tonite at 9 p.m.)
 
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