The Mars orbiter spacecraft's first images of Earth have reached Isro's Indian Deep Space Network in Byalalu, about 30km from here.
On Thursday, Isro released one image taken on November 19 which captures the Indian subcontinent. It was taken using its Mars Colour Camera (MCC) from 67,975km with a resolutionof 3.53km per pixel. The image was taken as part the payload testing activity which commenced last week.
The MCC, which is meant for optical imaging of the Martian surface, was one of the first payloads to be tested. "It's ideal to conduct a test on the functioning of all payloads before the craft leaves the sphere of Earth's influence. The MCC is working well, as indicated by the images we've received," a senior Isro official told TOI.
The tri-colour camera will send images and information about the Martian surface from September 2014 after the craft reaches its designated elliptical orbit around Mars. "The images and information will be useful to monitor the Martian weather. The camera will be used to monitor two of its satellites, Phobos and Deimos," the official said.
MCC will also provide context information for other payloads aboard MOM, another official said, adding that the testing of the four other payloads will be done next week. "Information received from other payloads may not be published as they're not of public interest. They'll be in the form of scientific data which will be released later," he said.
Here is picture from the Mars mission:
We can clearly see the Helen Cyclone coming towards Andhra Pradesh.
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