ISRO’s Mangalyaan‑2 Mission Set for 2026 Launch to Expand Mars Exploration
Science & Tech · 05 Sept 2026 · Source: Internet
The Indian Space Research Organisation plans to launch its second interplanetary mission, Mangalyaan‑2, in 2026, aiming to deploy an orbiter and a rover on Mars.
Mangalyaan‑2 will build on the success of the 2013 Mars Orbiter Mission, incorporating advanced payloads such as a hyperspectral imaging camera, a subsurface radar, and a mini‑rover equipped with a soil analysis laboratory.
The mission is part of ISRO’s broader Mars Exploration Programme, which seeks to study Martian atmospheric dynamics, surface composition, and potential for past life, aligning with global scientific collaborations under the International Mars Exploration Working Group.
Funding for the mission has been approved in the 2025‑26 Union Budget, with an estimated cost of ₹1,200 crore, emphasizing India’s commitment to cost‑effective deep‑space exploration.