What led to the success in such a short time that was available to you to build the spacecraft?
We took meticulous care at every stage of the spacecraft’s conceptualisation and configuration, the design of its equipment and sub-systems and their realisation. Besides, there was teamwork. There was meticulous planning in building the spacecraft.
What were the highlights of the mission?
Long-distance communication with the spacecraft was one. Autonomy of the spacecraft [its ability to take decisions on its own in case of any contingency] is another. The realisation of the spacecraft [in 15 months] was yet another achievement. We designed the spacecraft. The design took the best advantage of the sub-systems during the spacecraft’s earth-bound phase, its cruise and the Martian phases.
ISRO had targeted a periapsis (closest approach to Mars) of 423 km and an apoapsis (farthest distance) of 80,000 km. What did you achieve now?
The periapsis we got was 427 km and the apoapsis of 78,500 km. We will confirm it.
