NEW DELHI — India’s space agency on Oct. 31 carried out a launch simulation for its first Mars orbiter to validate the mission’s flight readiness before its scheduled liftoff next week, a senior space scientist says. The 8 1/2-hr. simulation, which was conducted at the first launch pad in Sriharikota in south India, included satellite battery checkup, withdrawal of the mobile service tower and testing of electrical systems, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman K. Radhakrishnan says.

The much-delayed maintenance, repair and overhaul facility jointly established by Air India and Boeing in India will be operational by mid-2014, the U.S. aircraft maker says. “The handover of the facility will be done by the end of this quarter or the next,” says Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president-sales, Asia Pacific and India, Boeing Commercial Aircraft.

NEW DELHI — India has unveiled its newly developed Pragati surface-to-surface missile, which features a range of 60-170 km. The missile, developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), is being displayed at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition ADEX-2013. “It is a proud moment for all of us in DRDO and for all our industry partners,” says Avinash Chander, DRDO chief and scientific adviser to the defense minister.