India all set to give go ahead for Mars mission

India is all set to give the go-ahead for an ambitious mission to Mars, expected in November next year, a top Space Department official said here today. "A lot of studies have been done on the possible mission to Mars", Secretary in the Department of Space and Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation K Radhakrishnan told reporters here. "We have come to the last phase of approvals", he said. "And I am sure that, maybe soon, we will be hearing an announcement on the Mars mission". According to ISRO officials, a significant amount of work on the planned Mars mission has been completed and scientific payloads have been short-listed. The project report for Indian Mars orbiter mission has been submitted for government approval.