Science & Technology MCQs - 2026-09-20

ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM-1) made India the first Asian nation to successfully reach Mars orbit and the first country in the world to achieve this feat in its very first attempt. This demonstrated ISRO's cost-effective and efficient approach to deep-space missions, setting a precedent for future missions like Mangalyaan-3.

While specific details for Mangalyaan-3 (MOM-2) are still under development, ISRO has indicated plans for more advanced scientific instruments and objectives, potentially including a lander/rover component or more detailed studies of Martian geology, atmosphere, and the search for biosignatures, building on the orbiter-only mission of Mangalyaan-1. Human missions and sample returns are far more complex and likely for later stages.

Mangalyaan, officially known as the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), was ISRO's first successful interplanetary mission to Mars, launched in 2013. Its success demonstrated India's capability in deep-space exploration and laid the groundwork for subsequent missions like the planned Mangalyaan-3.