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OTD Science On This Day, 2014: Mangalyaan Entered the Mars Orbit - Was the Mission Truly "Cheaper Than An Auto Ride"?

On This Day, 2014: Mangalyaan Entered the Mars Orbit - Was the Mission Truly "Cheaper Than An Auto Ride"?

The unbelievably low cost of Mangalyaan owed to several factors. On September 24 back in 2014, Mangalyaan or the Mars Orbiter Mission (launched on 5 November 2013 by ISRO), entered the Mars orbit, marking a historic moment for India. And as news of its success spread, the world took notice of how India, a developing nation, had managed to achieve something so significant and at such a low cost. Soon after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi famously remarked that the mission was “cheaper than an auto ride in India.” Now, is that really true? What do you think? As we mark 11 years since Mangalyaan’s arrival in the Martian orbit, let’s take a closer look. Why Was It So Cost-Effective? The mission cost just Rs 450 crore (about $74 million), a fraction of what other space agencies spent on similar projects.  Several factors helped Mangalyaan keep its costs low: The “module ...

Sayan Paul
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On This Day, 2014: Mangalyaan Entered the Mars Orbit - Was the Mission Truly "Cheaper Than An Auto Ride"?
OTD Science  | 22 September, 2025
On This Day, 2014: Mangalyaan Entered the Mars Orbit - Was the Mission Truly "Cheaper Than An Auto Ride"?
The unbelievably low cost of Mangalyaan owed to several factors. On September 24 back in 2014, Mangalyaan or the Mars Orbiter Mission (launched on...
On This Day: Oct 19: Birth anniversary of Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, who won the Nobel Prize
OTD Science  | 21 August, 2025
On This Day: Oct 19: Birth anniversary of Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, who won the Nobel Prize
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar's most significant contribution in the field of astrophysics is demonstration of evolutionary stages of massive stars. O...
On This Day, 1969: Neil Armstrong Became the First Human to Walk on Moon - Why was He Chosen Over Buzz Aldrin?
OTD Science  | 19 August, 2025
On This Day, 1969: Neil Armstrong Became the First Human to Walk on Moon - Why was He Chosen Over Buzz Aldrin?
The mission, Apollo 11, was launched on July 16, 1969, and landed on the lunar surface on July 20. Fifty-six years ago, on July 20, 1969, the worl...
On This Day: Oct 13: Birth anniversary of Rudolf Virchow, the "Father of Pathology"
OTD Science  | 13 August, 2025
On This Day: Oct 13: Birth anniversary of Rudolf Virchow, the "Father of Pathology"
Rudolf Virchow was arguably one of the most important biologist, physician, scientist, from Germany in the nineteenth century. He was a progressive...
On This Day, 2019: Chandrayaan-2 was Launched - Why Did the Mission Fail?
OTD Science  | 18 July, 2025
On This Day, 2019: Chandrayaan-2 was Launched - Why Did the Mission Fail?
Launched on July 22, 2019, the spacecraft entered lunar orbit on August 20. But during its final descent on September 6, the lander crashed while atte...
On This Day, 2008: ISRO Set Record by Launching 10 Satellites at One Go - What Was the Mission About?
OTD Science  | 27 April, 2025
On This Day, 2008: ISRO Set Record by Launching 10 Satellites at One Go - What Was the Mission About?
There were two Indian satellites and eight nano satellites from abroad launched into orbit through PSLV-C9 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center. Ind...
On This Day, 1984: Rakesh Sharma Became First Indian in Space - What was the Mission About?
OTD Science  | 02 April, 2025
On This Day, 1984: Rakesh Sharma Became First Indian in Space - What was the Mission About?
For everyone who dreams of going to space, Rakesh Sharma is an inspiration. - Upar se Bharat kaisa dikhta hai aapko? (asked the then Indian PM, Ind...
On This Day - Chandrayaan-1 Was Launched In 2008: Meet The Remarkable Team Behind The Mission
OTD Science  | 21 October, 2024
On This Day - Chandrayaan-1 Was Launched In 2008: Meet The Remarkable Team Behind The Mission
The spacecraft was expected to operate for two years. However, all communication with it was lost on August 28, 2009. Last year, the groundbreakin...
On This Day - NASA Began Its Operations In 1958: Know About NASA & ISRO's Joint Project, NISAR
OTD Science  | 30 September, 2024
On This Day - NASA Began Its Operations In 1958: Know About NASA & ISRO's Joint Project, NISAR
The NISAR satellite is designed to observe and measure some of Earth's most complex natural processes. On October 1, 1958, NASA - the National Aer...
On This Day - Bhagat Singh's Birth Anniversary: Actors Who Have Played The Indian Freedom Fighter On Screen
OTD Science  | 25 September, 2023
On This Day - Bhagat Singh's Birth Anniversary: Actors Who Have Played The Indian Freedom Fighter On Screen
The iconic socialist revolutionary has been immortalized on the screen by Bollywood. "The aim of life is no more to control the mind, but to devel...
On This Day - NASA Was Formed In 1958: How Was The US Space Agency Born?
OTD Science  | 27 July, 2023
On This Day - NASA Was Formed In 1958: How Was The US Space Agency Born?
The agency is now majorly focused on better understanding Earth through the Earth Observing System. NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Admin...
On This Day - APJ Abdul Kalam’s Death Anniversary: A Look at The Missile Man's Journey to Becoming People's President
OTD Science  | 20 July, 2023
On This Day - APJ Abdul Kalam’s Death Anniversary: A Look at The Missile Man's Journey to Becoming People's President
He served as the President of India from 2002 to 2007. "Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only...
On This Day - International Moon Day: When NASA Shared Visuals of Neil Armstrong's Footprints on Moon After 50 Years; WATCH
OTD Science  | 10 July, 2023
On This Day - International Moon Day: When NASA Shared Visuals of Neil Armstrong's Footprints on Moon After 50 Years; WATCH
The day commemorates the anniversary of the first landing on the lunar surface by humans. "That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankin...
On This Day - India's First Unmanned Satellite 'Aryabhata' was Launched: Here's A look at ISRO's Major Satellites Launched So Far
OTD Science  | 15 April, 2023
On This Day - India's First Unmanned Satellite 'Aryabhata' was Launched: Here's A look at ISRO's Major Satellites Launched So Far
ISRO has successfully launched numerous satellites over the years. On this very date back in 1975, India's first unmanned satellite, the Aryabhata...
On This Day, 1975 - India's First Satellite Aryabhata was Launched from Kapustin Yar, Russia
OTD Science  | 11 April, 2023
On This Day, 1975 - India's First Satellite Aryabhata was Launched from Kapustin Yar, Russia
The satellite was named after the renowned Indian astronomer, Aryabhata. India currently has numerous operational satellites which provide valuabl...
On This Day - Salyut 1, World's First Space Station, was Launched in 1971
OTD Science  | 11 April, 2023
On This Day - Salyut 1, World's First Space Station, was Launched in 1971
The space station was launched into low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union. On the nineteenth of April back in 1971, the world's first space station,...
On This Day - NASA Launched Apollo 13 in 1970
OTD Science  | 10 April, 2023
On This Day - NASA Launched Apollo 13 in 1970
The spacecraft suffered an oxygen tank explosion en route to the Moon. On April 11, 1970, NASA launched its third moon-landing mission, Apollo 13....
On This Day - The International Day of Human Space Flight
OTD Science  | 01 April, 2023
On This Day - The International Day of Human Space Flight
The occasion marks the anniversary of the first human space flight by Yuri Gagarin (USSR). On this very date back in 1961, Yuri Gagarin carried out...
On This Day - NASA Launched its First Space Shuttle in 1981
OTD Science  | 01 April, 2023
On This Day - NASA Launched its First Space Shuttle in 1981
It carried astronauts John Young (mission commander) and Robert Crippen (pilot) into orbit. On April 12 in 1981, NASA launched its first space shut...
On This Day - Mars Odyssey was Launched in 2001
OTD Science  | 29 March, 2023
On This Day - Mars Odyssey was Launched in 2001
The spacecraft arrived at Mars on October 24 of that year. On this very date back in 2001, NASA launched its robotic spacecraft '2001 Mars Odyssey...
On This Day - Laser Was Granted A Patent In The Year 1960
OTD Science  | 16 March, 2023
On This Day - Laser Was Granted A Patent In The Year 1960
What is known today as “laser” was earlier known as “masers and maser communication system.” On March 22 in the year 1960, scientists Charles H. To...
On This Day: Albert Einstein Presented His General Theory Of Relativity In The Year 1916
OTD Science  | 13 March, 2023
On This Day: Albert Einstein Presented His General Theory Of Relativity In The Year 1916
  As a consequence of Albert Einstein’s work, it was clear to all that time and space comprise a single continuum. It was on March 20, 1916...
On This Day - Kalpana Chawla Birthday: Things To Know About NASA’s India-Born American Woman Astronaut
OTD Science  | 10 March, 2023
On This Day - Kalpana Chawla Birthday: Things To Know About NASA’s India-Born American Woman Astronaut
  On her birth anniversary, let’s remember Kalpana Chawla and her space mission at NASA. As we all know, Indian born American astronaut Kal...

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