The first Trajectory Correction Manoeuvre of India's maiden interplanetary mission to Mars was carried out successfully by ISRO scientists on the spacecraft at 6. 30 this morning. Mangalyaan is presently travelling some 29 lakh kms away from the Earth. The correction was done to fine tune the trajectory path of the spacecraft to keep it travelling in the intended track towards the red planet.

he spacecraft had moved out of the Earth’s orbit on the first of this month. The Indian Space Research Organisation has planned four Trajectory Correction Manoeuvres for Mangalyaan on its journey to Mars. They oeuvres are needed to keep the spacecraft on the required path. It is also essential for maintaining the required velocity.

Mangalyaan is on a 680-million-km voyage to Mars. It was launched on the fifth of November and the spacecraft is expected to reach the Martian orbit by the 24th of September next year.