Mangalyaan set to enter into 15-day 'blackout' phase
June 08, 2015  08:43
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Starting on Monday, the country's low-cost Mars mission that is in a rendezvous with the red planet for an extended period will enter the "blackout" phase snapping communication with the satellite.

From June 8 to 22, the sun will block Mars from the earth snapping communication with the satellite.

MOM during this period will go into an "autonomous mode" and will take its decisions, a senior Indian Space Research Organisation official said.

"This will be for the first time that there will be a communication break for such a long period of about 15 days. During this period, there will not be any communication with the satellite," he said.

Expressing confidence about regaining control over the satellite once the blackout phase is over, he said, "the scenario has been tested for earlier; line of communication will be established."

The spacecraft's life was extended for another six months in March due to surplus fuel.
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