Life on Mars? ISRO begins countdown to find answers

Mars Orbiter Mission seeks to reveal if there is methane,considered a “precursor chemical” to life on the Red Planet,key officials behind the ambitious venture said Wednesday.

A methane sensor,one of five payloads onboard the spacecraft,would look to detect presence of the gas,MOM project director Arunan S said.

He said the sensor was aimed at understanding whether life existed on Mars or if it would have life in future. “Methane is the base for life on any planet.”

After a media preview of the Mars orbiter at ISRO Satellite Centre here,officials