Trajectory correction of Mars mission likely by June 11

CHENNAI: Indian Space Research Organisation is likely to perform its next trajectory correction manoeuvre on its Mars Orbiter mission on June 11.

As its Mars mission is "on intended track" and was proceeding towards the red planet with "good health," ISRO had earlier announced that the trajectory correction manoeuvre scheduled for April was not necessary and postponed it for this month.

"The mission is in good health and is on the intended track. We have planned the next trajectory correction manoeuvre of Mars mission on June 11. It is yet to be finalised," a senior ISRO official told PTI.

The spacecraft has now crossed two third of the total distance -- 480 million km approximately, they said.

Another trajectory correction manoeuvre has been planned in August before the space agency performs Mars Orbit Insertion in September.

The Mars mission, which was launched from Sriharikota on November 5 last year with an aim to reach the red planet's atmosphere by September 24 this year, had already crossed the half-way mark on April 9.

ISRO scientists are continuously monitoring the spacecraft using its Deep Space Network complemented by that of NASA-JPL.

The Rs 450-crore project is expected to provide the scientific community better opportunities in planetary research.