2 Dec 2013

Indian rocket on course for Mars

9:10 am on 2 December 2013

India's mission to Mars has embarked on a journey to the Red Planet that will take 299 days.

The spacecraft on Sunday fired its main engine for more than 20 minutes, giving it the correct velocity to leave Earth's orbit.

It is expected to reach Mars on 24 September next year. It was launched on 5 November.