Watch live: Historic moment as Mangalyaan enters Mars orbit

After a cruising for nearly 9 months, India's first interplanetary probe, Mangalyaan, will on Wednesday aim for Mars orbit.

The tricky manoeuvre involves slowing down the spacecraft now moving at benumbing speed to be captured in the Martian orbit.

Demonstrating its prowess in technology, India’s space programme could be only the fourth to reach Mars after the Soviet Union, the United States and Europe. If the mission succeeds, India will be the only country to send a probe to Mars in its first attempt.

In the final lap, the operation is scheduled to be performed at 07:17:32 hrs on Wednesday by firing the LAM along with eight smaller liquid engines for about 24 minutes.

The engine would be fired for 24 minutes to reduce its velocity and insert it into the Martian orbit. ISRO has uploaded commands to help the spacecraft automatically enter the orbit.

Watch the live coverage of the 'Mars Orbit Insertion'.