The objective of the book is to find an answer to the rationale behind the human quest for the Mars exploration. As a comprehensive assessment for this query is undertaken, it is realized that the basic question 'Why Mars?' seeks various responses from technological, economic and geopolitical to strategic perspectives. The book is essentially targeted to understand India's desire to reach Mars. In the process, it also undertakes some implicit questioning of Mars programmes of various other states essentially to facilitate the setting up of the context for an assessment.

The book is divided into two parts:
Part I: This covers both science and politics associated with Mars missions in global scenario and discusses the salient features of various Mars Missions undertaken by various countries.
Part II: This provides details in regards to India's Mars Mission.

Autorentext
Wing Commander Ajey Lele is a Research Fellow at Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, an Indian think-tank on security and strategic studies. He is a postgraduate in Physics and has obtained his doctorate in International Relations. He works on issues & related to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Strategic Technologies and Space Security. He has authored many books including Asian Space Race: Rhetoric or Reality?, published by Springer.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Why Mars?.- Discerning Mars.- Indian Multidimensional Space Plan.- Mars Orbiter Mission.- Asia's Investments in Mars.- Mars Missions: Past, Present and Future.- Cost Contested: Perceptions vs. Reality.- Wrapping Up.