<p>India's maiden inter-planetary mission to Mars ''Mangalyaan'' was on course and the orbiter would reach the Martian orbit on September 24, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Radhakrishnan said here today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Dismissing the sceptical views expressed by certain quarters over the misssion, he said, "Mars mission is going well and will reach the orbit on September 24, 2014."<br /><br />This will make all in ISRO and also the people of the country proud "as it will be a major milestone for ISRO," Radhakrishnan said at a felicitation function organised by The Institute of Engineers India (Kerala Chapter).<br /><br />Now it took four minutes for a signal from the ground station to reach the spacecraft, launched from Sriharikota on November 5, he said.<br /><br />Stating that many more missions were under different stages, Radhakrishnan said another major project in coming months would be the experimental mission of GSLV-MARK 3 with crew module for country's human space flight mission.<br /><br />ISRO's rating among the countries with space missions had gone up, he said, adding a USA-based bench mark agency has placed the Indian agency in sixth place.<br /><br />ISRO had 10 successful launches during the last one year, he said,, adding, "ISRO uses its resources judiciously for the benefit of the society."<br /><br />Space scientists M Chandra Dathan, Director LPSC, K Sivan, Project Director GSLV and P Kuhhikrishnan, Project Director PSLV were also felicitated.</p>
<p>India's maiden inter-planetary mission to Mars ''Mangalyaan'' was on course and the orbiter would reach the Martian orbit on September 24, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Radhakrishnan said here today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Dismissing the sceptical views expressed by certain quarters over the misssion, he said, "Mars mission is going well and will reach the orbit on September 24, 2014."<br /><br />This will make all in ISRO and also the people of the country proud "as it will be a major milestone for ISRO," Radhakrishnan said at a felicitation function organised by The Institute of Engineers India (Kerala Chapter).<br /><br />Now it took four minutes for a signal from the ground station to reach the spacecraft, launched from Sriharikota on November 5, he said.<br /><br />Stating that many more missions were under different stages, Radhakrishnan said another major project in coming months would be the experimental mission of GSLV-MARK 3 with crew module for country's human space flight mission.<br /><br />ISRO's rating among the countries with space missions had gone up, he said, adding a USA-based bench mark agency has placed the Indian agency in sixth place.<br /><br />ISRO had 10 successful launches during the last one year, he said,, adding, "ISRO uses its resources judiciously for the benefit of the society."<br /><br />Space scientists M Chandra Dathan, Director LPSC, K Sivan, Project Director GSLV and P Kuhhikrishnan, Project Director PSLV were also felicitated.</p>