Launched in 2013 and inserted into Mars orbit in 2014, Mangalyaan cost just $74 million; less than the budget of many Hollywood movies. For context, NASA’s MAVEN mission arrived around the same time… and cost nearly $700 million. ISRO didn’t just reach Mars on the first try; they made history as the first Asian nation to do so, and the fourth globally. What’s more? They featured the spacecraft on a ₹2000 note in 2016; a rare honor. The orbiter outlived its planned 10-month lifespan by over 7 years, studying Mars’ atmosphere, capturing images, and inspiring a generation. Its silence in 2022 saddened many, but its legacy? That’s still orbiting in the minds of every young Indian kid dreaming of space. Mangalyaan didn’t just go to Mars; it redefined what’s possible with limited resources and big ambition.