ISRO’s 2nd tryst with Mars in 2018

Bengaluru: After successfully positioning Mangalyaan in a precise orbit around Mars last month, Indian space scientists are mulling a second rendezvous with the Red Planet in 2018. The next mission would be an improvised version of Mangalyaan with scientists keen to incorporate the technological expertise gained from the design and manufacture of a lander and rover for Chandrayaan-II, Dr. S.K. Shiva Kumar, director, of Isro’s Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, said on Wednesday adding. “The idea is to improve the content of the orbiter to do more meaningful experiments, but 2016 is too early. So, 2018 will be the earliest possible launch window.”