India unveils Mars mission spacecraft

MUMBAI - India unveils its Mars mission space craft on Wednesday, saying the launch of the space craft is likely to happen in late October or early in November, local news agency PTI reported Thursday.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it would launch the space craft from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The spacecraft is expected to reach Mars in September 2014.

"The spacecraft for our maiden Mars mission is ready for launch between Oct 21 and Nov 19 on board a rocket with five instruments to conduct various experiments while orbiting the red planet after a nine-month voyage," ISRO satellite centre director SK Shivkumar said at a preview of the orbiter in Bangalore.

Once launched from the spaceport, the spacecraft would go around the earth for 20-25 days before embarking on a nine-month voyage to Mars.