The Union Cabinet gave its final nod to the Rs 450 crore Mars mission slated for launch in October-November next year. India will be the sixth space power to undertake such an effort.  

After the moon mission, ISRO's plans for Mars exploration -- touted as one of the most ambitions space efforts -- got a big boost with the government allocating Rs 125 crore in the Union Budget 2012.

The mission was cleared by the Space Commission last December.   The proposed project schedule says that the space agency plans to launch a Mars Orbiter as early as November next year from Sriharikota.

The Mars mission, which comprises putting a spacecraft in the Red Planet's orbit to study its atmosphere, will be launched using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.