Not engaged in space race with China: ISRO

The ISRO chief rejected suggestions that heavier rocket GSLV could do a far better job vis-à-vis MOM than the PSLV, which would be used for the mission, and argued that GSLV development is not in conflict with the Mars odyssey venture.  

GSLV with indigenous cryogenic engine failed in 2010 and ISRO had revisited the programme since then, with the first flight thereafter slated for December 15 this year.  

There is a perception in some quarters that ISRO should have focused on getting GSLV operational again rather than venturing into MOM at this juncture but Radhakrishnan sought to debunk it.