On this night in science
India sets off for Mars
November 5, 2013
On this day in 2013, India launched its first spacecraft to Mars, called the Mars Orbiter Mission. It spent nearly a month circling the Earth, climbing a little higher each time, before it finally broke away and headed for Mars.
Why it mattered
When it reached Mars the next year, India became the first country to put a spacecraft into orbit around Mars on its very first try.
Wonder together
Why do you think the spacecraft circled the Earth for a whole month before heading to Mars?
Where this comes from