The satellite's development was fast-tracked and completed in a record 15 months.
The space agency will use its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket. The October–November 2013 launch will place Mangalyaan into Earth orbit, then six engine firings will raise that orbit to one with an apogee of 215,000 km and a perigee of 600 km, where it will remain for about 25 days.
A final firing in 30 November 2013 will send Mangalyaan onto an interplanetary trajectory.
