Anti-Telangana protest felt at Isro

100s of protesters came in front the media before Isco chief could commence his speech

Update: India's former president APJ Abdul Kalam today said, "the Mars orbiter of India is in a great mission of a 400 million km journey which has commenced today successfully. My best wishes to the entire ISRO team for this achievement. 

 

I am confident that ISRO will cross the challenges in the mission on December 1, 2013, when the orbiter is given trans-mars injection and it escapes from the earth’s sphere of influence. I wish ISRO to succeed many more challenges during the Mars orbital mission with its technological strength to achieve the desired mission objectives."

Update: The anti-Telengana protestors selected the venue of India's successful launch of Manglyan, the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), to stage their protest against the centre's decision to divide the state of Andhra Pradesh into two seperate States.

The protestors today barged in into the press conference arranged by ISRO after the successful launch of the PSLV-C25 with Mangalyan.

A set of protesters came infront of the media, hundreds of them gathered to interact with the space scientists, before K Radhakrishnan, Chairman of ISRO could commence his speech.

They held papers written with slogans demanding not to divide Andhra Pradesh, and took the centre stage interrupting the press interacton and tried to give papers to Radhakrishnan, who refused to accept it.

After around five minutes of disruption, the protesters moved away. 

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UPDATE: US ambassador to India Nancy Powell arrives at Sriharikota to witness the Mars Mission. Along with her are V. Narayanasamy, minster of state in Prime Minister's Officer and K Kasturirangan, former chairman of Isro and Member Planning commission. _________________________________________

On Tuesday Morning, Isro' guest house at Chennai is busy and vibrant as journalists from across the country have gathered to board a bus to Isro's space station at the Island of Sriharikota, about 118 kms from Chennai, on the coast of Andhra Pradesh.

 

The group of about 250 media representatives from different publications and TV channels, both from India and outside, were as excited as others in the country to witness the historical moment, launch of a satellite by the Isro to the red planet the Mars.

 

The PSLVC25 Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), which will carry Mangalyaan, is scheduled to take off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, located on this tiny island, at 14.38 hours today.

 

After crossing some of busy and congested roads, highways the bus came off from the Chennai-Kolkata highway, after travelling for around four hours.

 

It is not to so easy to enter this Island, which is under heavy security starting from local police, coast guard, CISF and other agencies are guarding the space station round the clock by forming different layers.

 

The bus passed by the road which was laid on the pulicat lake, country's second largest, to reach the main gates of Isro. After several security check-ups, the media representatives were taken into the premises of Sathish Dhawan Space Centre.

 

US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell, V Narayanasamy, minister of state in Prime Minister's Officer and K Kasturirangan, former chairman of Isro and Member Planning commission are present at the Space Centre to witness the launch.

 

It is in this premises that the white colour PSLV C25, with a tri-colour painted on the nose and "India" written from top to bottom and Isro in small letters, awaiting on the launch pad for its historic mission, which will be a long journey towards the orbit of Mars.

 

The Orbiter will remain in the Earth's orbit till December 1, when it starts its 300-day voyage to Mars. The spacecraft is expected to reach the red planet on September 24, 2014, after traversing 400 million kms.

 

Once it completes the long journey and reaches its destination it will add one more feather in Isro's hat. Isro will be the fourth agency in the World to reach out to Mars, while country wise India will be the fifth, after Russia, US, Japan and the European Union.

 

Hundreds of scientists inside this remote island, literally isolated from human habitation, were busy preparing for this launch. The mood was one of nervous anticipation in the mission control room.

 

The country's top space scientists sitting before their computers and were tensed.

 

Anxiety mixed with hope is the mood of the hundreds of spectators, including VIPs,  journalists, industrialists, who are waiting in the terrace of various buildings nearby, to watch the launch.
 

^{Countdown for the launch}

Various ground stations are identified for monitoring all the salient events of PSLV C25 for Isro's Mars Orbiter Mission right from the Launch pad to the Satellite separation

All the events upto the separation of the Third stages of PSLV are continuously tracked by Isro’s ground stations at Sriharikota, Port Blair, Brunei and Biak as indicated by the circles in the image

The Ignition of the Fourth stage and the Separation of the satellite are planned to be monitored by the two ship borne terminals deployed in the South Pacific Ocean

For about 10 minutes between the separation of The Third stage and the Ignition of the Fourth stage, the vehicle will not be in the visibility region of any of the Earth based stations as will be evident during the live telecast. During this period the Vehicle undergoes a ballistic trajectory and no critical events are scheduled during this planned Non-visibility period

Mobile Service Tower (MST) withdrawal to final parking

1 hr and 23 mins to go for the launch

Mobile Service Tower (MST) withdrawal to final parking (150m) completed. Countdown is normal

All vehicle systems are switched ON for the final eight and half hour countdown starting at 6:08 hrs (IST)

Second Stage (PS2) Propellant filling operations completed

MOM logo decoded !

MOM logo is a blend of the radiant red shade of Mars and the soothing blue serenity of mother Earth !

It depicts the transition of Isro's Mars Orbiter Mission spacecraft from Earth to Mars and also its intended orbit around Mars

It’s impossible to miss the astronomical symbol of planet Mars embedded into the logo and also the striking similarity of shades this logo shares with the Isro logo