IAS Exam Preparation

IAS Exam Preparation of Science & Technology via Infographics

You will be tested by UPSC on Questions relating to Science & Technology. ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM) Mangalyaan is extremely significant from examination point of view.

Science & Technology for IAS Exam Preparation 2016

Topic –  Mars Orbiter Mission – Mangalyaan

IAS Exam Preparation

Facts About Mars

  • Has two moons: Phobos and Deimos
  • 4th planet from Sun
  • 2nd smallest planet in the Solar system after Mercury.
  • Diameter: ~6800 kms (Mars); Earth (~12700 kms)
  • Volume wise, ~8 Mars would fit inside our Earth.
  • One Martian day: 24 hours 37 minutes
  • One Martian year: 687 days
  • Mars is also tilted on its axis (25 degrees).
  • Mars gravity 1/10th of Earth.
  • When Sun and Mars are in opposite direction, it can be easily observed from Earth.

Facts About Mangalyaan 

  • MoM/Mangalyaan: first Indian spacecraft to cross Earth’s escape velocity of 11.2 km per second.
  • Mangalyaan traveled for ~300 days, covering ~65 crore kilometers, and reached Martian orbit in September 2014.
  • Mangalyan is not the fastest spacecraft to reach Mars. Others are far ahead of It, in terms of speed. For example- European Space Agency’s Mars mission (2003) reached Mars in  ~210 days.
  • MoM cost 7 rupees per kms to reach

ISRO’s MoM Versus NASA’s Maven

ISRO’s MoM NASA’s Maven
Mars Orbitor Mission Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN)
launch vehicle=PSLV Atlas V rockets. (more powerful than PSLV)
launched on 5th Nov 2013 18th Nov 2013
reached Mars on 24th Sep 2014 Reached Mars on 21st Sep 2014.
launched from Sriharikota, Andhra launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida, US.
Rs.450 crore $671 million
~1,350 kg ??
Doing three studies:

  1. Surface/geology: using camera and spectrometer.
  2. (Particle) Environment: using MENCA
  3. Atmosphere: using Photometer and Methane sensor
  • Only study Martian (upper) atmosphere.
  • based on that data: It’ll give clues about martian climate, geologic, and geochemical conditions over time
  • Will find the answer: Did Mars ever had suitable environment to support life?
has five instruments/payloads has eight instrument- spectrograph, magnetometer, ion analyzer etc.
– The spacecraft may also provide communications relay support for future Mars landers and rovers.

 

IAS Exam Quiz

1. Mars is larger / higher than Earth in terms of

1. gravity
2. diameter
3. no. of moons
4. days in a year
 
 
 
 

Question 1 of 5

2. Which of the following missions have failed to reach Mars?

1.Viking
2. Phobos
3. Nozomi
 
 
 
 

Question 2 of 5

3. Why did ISRO’s Mangalyaan or MoM used PSLV instead of GSLV as launch vehicle?
 
 
 
 

Question 3 of 5

4. Similarities between ISRO’s MoM and NASA’s MAVEN missions?

Both lack Land rovers
Both aim to study Martian atmosphere
Both were launched and reached Mars in the same months.
 
 
 
 

Question 4 of 5

5. Incorrect pairs of ISRO Mars payloads vs. purpose

MENCA: Methane and Natural gas
Spectrometer: study surface and dust storms
Photometer: Study Hydrogen and deuterium
 
 
 
 

Question 5 of 5


 

Useful Links for IAS Aspirants

ENROLL FOR CIVIL SERVICES PREPARATION PACKAGES AND TESTS DESIGNED BY PREVIOUS YEAR TOPPERS ONLY FOR RS 499

HOW TO PREPARE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR CIVIL SERVICES

CIVIL SERVICES PRELIMINARY EXAM PATTERN, SYLLABUS AND RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Suggested Reading

DAILY INFOGRAPHICS ON GS

references:mrunal.org