Indian Martian Odyssey : A journey to the red planet

India launched an unmanned orbiting to Mars in November 2013. Once the project got the approval of the government, it was readied in the shortest possible time and launched. So far it has been successful. If it succeeds in reaching Mars in September 2014, it will be the first Asian country to have been successful in the very first attempt itself. The flight has attracted worldwide interest, judging from the number of international correspondents who were present at Sriharikota for the launch. Called the Mars Orbiting Mission, or just MOM affectionately, it is equipped with five payloads, and their role is to study the Martian atmosphere and look for the elusive methane. There is also a Mars colour camera. The Indian Mars journey has been a topic of discussion at every level of Indian society, particularly among the younger generation. People would be interested in knowing after the mission was launched.