What a bl00dy waste of money! What are we going to achieve going there? The US of A has already sent a dozen probes to mars including Viking, Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity etc. We ain't even planning to land there! So what are we going to achieve orbiting the planet from 300km above? The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Global Surveyor, Odyssey etc have already sent tons of info back to Earth from orbit.
Bad idea!
Too much Idealism!
Japan - Nozomi, Planet C Mission Failed (Next Encounter with Venus - 2017)
Russia - Mars 96, Phobos-Grunt Failed (Next Mission Venera D in 2016)
Europe - Mars Express, Venus Express (Successful only with support of NASA)
India - Mangal Yaan November 2013 along with MAVEN (USA)
If Successful, India will be the only 2nd Country in the World to Successfully put a Spacecraft into another Planet's Orbit after United States.
The Following are the Objectives to be
After New Frontiers Programe of USA is cut, MAVEN being the Last in 2013.
All the Interplanetary Missions in the Future Post 2015 would be International Flotillas.
Already started.
2014 - Bepi Colombo - Japan and EU
2020+ - Europa, Ganymede Missions would be USA, EU, Japan and Russia.
If India wants Equal and Respectable Standing and Share in the Future, This is very Important.
In fact, A Pioneer 10-11 Kind of Mission with RTGs should be Approved and Launched ASAP by India. Trajectory with Jupiter Fly-by and Kuiper Belt Objects should be Targeted.