Question

2. Which instrument is used for communicating with MOM?
When did it start orbiting Mars? By whom is it being monitored currently?

Answer 1

Telephone was used to communicate with MOM.

Answer 2

2.  The Electronic Telecommunication Instrument onboard on MOM to communicate with it from the ground station is called the Transponder.   The signals are received from air/vacuum by the antenna arrays and reflector.  The collected signal is amplified by  a TWT amplifier circuit and then the transponder  decodes messages and processes.

3.  MOM spacecraft was placed in the Aero-Centric orbit around Mars on the 24th of September.   MOM is being monitored by the Spacecraft control center (SCC) of ISRO.   SCC is part of Master control facility of ISRO at HASSAN.  SCC is located in Peenya in Bangalore.