MUMBAI (TIP): In a major boost to India‘s muchawaited mars mission, the red planet-bound spacecraft cleared a crucial 15-day test at the Bangalore satellite centre. The 1,350kg spacecraft, which Isro plans to launch after October 21, cleared the thermo-vacuum test with all five payloads on August 27 night. The test was conducted to verify the spacecraft’s performance in a simulated space environment with temperatures beyond those expected in the orbit. “The test went off flawlessly. There were no problems either with the payloads or the spacecraft,” an Isro official said.

In the next phase, the spacecraft will be subjected to an acoustic and vibration test to assess its response again in a simulated launch environment. “Once this is completed, the spacecraft will be moved to Sriharikota sometime in the middle of September,” the official said.