On Thursday, the president of India, Pranab Mukherjee announced that his country will be launching a mission to Mars in 2013.

“Several space missions are planned for 2013, including India’s first mission to Mars and the launch of our first navigational satellite,” Mukherjee told India’s parliament. The federal cabinet approved the mission last year.

In a project costing $83 million India will launch an unmanned spacecraft that will be placed in orbit 310 miles above the red planet. The launch will take place in October, the unmanned flight will take about nine months.

India’s space program began in the 70s and by 1983, the country installed their first satellite in earth’s orbit. Then, in 2008 India sent an unmanned mission to the moon.

In addition to the unmanned mission to Mars, India will also place the first of seven satellites into orbit that with ultimately make up their Global Positioning System.

India launched its 100th space mission in September of 2012.