Published On:Friday, 24 October 2014
Mangalyaan's one month in Mars orbit: Google celebrates with a doodle
New Delhi: Google on Thursday paid tribute to India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) with a special doodle as it completed one month in Mars orbit.
Unlike other doodles that the Internet giant comes up on some occasions to mark anniversaries or events, today's doodle is static.
The doodle, which is visible only in India, depicts India's Mars spacecraft 'Mangalyaan' in outer space with a portion of the Red Planet in the background.
India created history in space by becoming the first country in the world to reach the Martian orbit on maiden attempt.
Mangalyaan entered the Mars orbit on 24th September 2014, making India the first Asian country to enter the Red Planet. The spacecraft with its indigenous scientific instruments will study the Martian surface, atmosphere as well as scan for methane gas (a sign that the planet can support life).
The MOM was launched into the orbit on 5 November 2013 using Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C-25) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
After entering the Martian orbit, MOM had sent several pictures of the Red Planet including dust storm activities and of Phobos (the larger and closer of the two natural satellites of Mars). The pictures were released by the ISRO on its official Facebook and Twitter account.
