India set to boost orbit into sphere of influence of Mars

India is all set for the crucial fourth trajectory correction manoeuvre and test fire of the main liquid engine on the spacecraft Monday, to let the Martian orbit enter into sphere of influence of Mars, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Sunday.

The 440 Newton Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engine will be fired for about four seconds on Monday and its success will boost confidence of the Martian mission.

"We are all set for the fourth trajectory correction manoeuvre and test fire of the main liquid engine, commands have already been loaded into the spacecraft for this event and has also been verified," the Press Trust of India quoted a top ranking ISRO official as saying.

"This test firing of the LAM engine is like a trial, which is going to be fired for a longer duration on Sept. 24 for Mars Orbit Insertion," he said.

The engine will be test-fired for 3.968 seconds with fuel consumption of about 0.567 kg and with a decremental velocity of 2. 142 meters per second, according to the official.

The Mars Orbit Mission, India's first interplanetary mission, was launched on Nov. 5, 2013 by India's workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh in southern India.

The mission is on a 666 million km journey. It escaped the earth gravity pull on Dec. 1, 2013.