Indian Mars mission set for liftoff

India is set to launch its first Mars mission Tuesday from the country's coastal spaceport aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

The Mars Orbiter Mission, a 1.5-ton probe developed and built for $73 million, is poised atop the PSLV for launch at 0908 GMT (4:08 a.m. EST), or 2:38 p.m. local time in India.

These images show the encapsulation of the spacecraft inside the PSLV's 10.5-foot-diameter payload fairing and the launcher ready for liftoff.

See our Mission Status Center for live coverage of the launch.

Credit: ISRO

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