New Delhi | November 6, 2025 — The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has officially confirmed that its next major interplanetary mission, Mangalyaan-2 (Mars Orbiter Mission-2), is scheduled for launch in 2030. According to ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, the mission will mark India’s first-ever attempt to achieve a soft landing on the surface of Mars — a historic milestone for the nation’s space programme.
Mangalyaan-2: Aiming for the Martian Surface
Buoyed by the success of recent missions such as Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and NISAR, ISRO is now setting its sights on Mars once again. Unlike the earlier orbiter mission, Mangalyaan-2 will attempt a surface landing, a feat accomplished so far only by the United States, China, and Russia. A successful touchdown would make India the fourth nation in the world to land on Mars.
Preliminary design and feasibility studies for Mangalyaan-2 are already underway, with key contributions from the Space Applications Centre (SAC) and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). ISRO is also exploring potential international collaborations, including with NASA, to enhance mission capabilities.
India’s First Mars Mission: The Legacy of Mangalyaan-1
India’s maiden Mars mission, Mangalyaan-1 (Mars Orbiter Mission – MOM), was launched on November 5, 2013, with the objective of studying the Martian atmosphere and surface from orbit. The mission made global headlines for its cost-effectiveness and technical brilliance.
Executed on a modest budget of just ₹450 crore (approximately USD 73 million), Mangalyaan-1 was one of the most economical interplanetary missions ever undertaken. ISRO also achieved a world first — becoming the only space agency to successfully reach Mars orbit on its first attempt.
Although designed for a lifespan of six months, the spacecraft continued operating for nearly eight years, until communications ceased in October 2022. The mission not only showcased India’s ability to execute complex space operations on limited budgets but also cemented its reputation for innovation and efficiency in global space exploration.
Chandrayaan Success: Setting India Apart
ISRO’s lunar missions, especially Chandrayaan-3, have already demonstrated the organisation’s growing expertise in precision landings and cost-efficient space engineering. India became the first country in the world to successfully execute a soft landing near the Moon’s south pole, a region known for its treacherous terrain and extreme temperatures.
The mission’s rover, Pragyan, gathered critical data confirming the presence of water molecules, significantly advancing lunar science. Remarkably, Chandrayaan-3 was accomplished on a budget of just ₹615 crore (USD 75 million) — less than the cost of many Hollywood films — exemplifying India’s hallmark “Jugaad” (innovative and cost-effective) approach.
With Mangalyaan-2, ISRO aims to extend that same spirit of ingenuity to Mars. A successful landing on the Red Planet would not only solidify India’s position as a major global player in planetary exploration but also reaffirm its capability to achieve world-class results through indigenous technology and resource efficiency.
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