Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today announced that its ambitious Mars Orbiter Mission was just nine million km away from the red planet, adding it would reach Mars in 33 days.

"Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) is just nine million km away from Mars and 189 million km away from the Earth. 33 more days to MARS," ISRO said on its social networking site.

Early this month, the scientists at India's premier space agency decided not to go for Trajectory Correction Manoeuvre planned for August as the spacecraft was on track.

The Rs 450-crore project was launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on November 5 in 2013 and its aim is to reach the atmosphere of the red planet by September 24.
The ISRO scientists are hopeful that the project would help them know more about Mars and help them in planetary research too.

Last week, Mangalyaan was 88 million km away from the red planet. It now takes 20 minutes for radio signals to reach MOM and return, ISRO had said in a post on its Mars Orbiter Mission Facebook page.