New Delhi, November 27, 2025 — India’s space agency ISRO is advancing plans for Mangalyaan 2, its follow-up Mars orbiter, after confirming the full completion and data archiving of the first Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission) earlier this year.

Background: From Mangalyaan 1 to a new phase

Launched in 2013, Mangalyaan 1 made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit and the first in the world to do so on its maiden attempt. It operated for over seven years—far beyond its six-month design—before losing contact in 2022.

The mission returned valuable atmospheric data and high-resolution imagery of Mars’ surface, establishing India’s credibility in low-cost planetary exploration.

ISRO’s next step: Mangalyaan 2

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) says Mangalyaan 2 will focus on long-term observation, improved instruments, and possibly deployable sensors for surface mapping. Design reviews are ongoing at ISRO’s UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.

• Mission Type: Mars Orbiter (Phase 2)
• Objective: Study Martian atmosphere, climate, and magnetic field
• Planned Window: Late 2026–early 2027
• Partners: Internal ISRO teams with possible ESA data collaboration

Unlike Mangalyaan 1, the second orbiter will use a higher-resolution camera and a new onboard AI system for adaptive imaging—automatically adjusting exposure and timing for atmospheric events.

Why it matters

India’s continued Mars presence strengthens its position in deep-space science alongside missions from NASA, ESA, and China. It also supports global interest in future human Mars missions by refining cost-efficient orbital strategies.

Official word from ISRO

In a brief statement, ISRO’s chairperson S. Somanath said: “Our Mars Orbiter legacy continues. We’re now focusing on a more autonomous spacecraft and sustained data return from Mars orbit.”

Sources

• ISRO Official Website
• Wikipedia: Mars Orbiter Mission
• The Hindu: ISRO plans next Mars mission

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