India Mars Orbitor Mission Captures Stunning 3D Images of the Red Planet

The India Mars orbiter has captured some breathtaking images of the Red Planet. The new pictures reveal a bit more about Mars, and sets the country up for further space exploration.

The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) actually marks India's first venture into interplanetary space. MOM is actually set to explore and observe Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and the Martian atmosphere. In addition, a specific search for methane in the Martian atmosphere may provide clues about the possibility of past life on the planet.

In this latest image, you can see a long, steep depression located in the Coprates Quadrangle on Mars. The probe itself used the Mangalyaan orbiter's Mars Color Camera instrument. The walls of the chasm have multiple layers and the floor contains large, layered mineral deposits.

The Mars mission was actually first launched in September 2014. This marked the first time that a nation successfully sent a mission to the Red Planet on its first attempt.

Many nations are currently interested in the Red Planet, and it's no surprise that India has also turned its eyes to the skies. As more and more information is gathered, though, researchers around the world may be able to determine whether or not the Red Planet actually did support life at one point in its ancient past.

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