NEW DELHI — The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) plans to undertake 10 space missions in 2013, including its first Mars orbiter. “Of these, eight missions will be launched by September 2013 and the remaining by year-end,” says V. Narayanasamy, a junior minister in the prime minister’s office, which is in charge of space administration.

As Indian carriers race to form a strategic alliance with international airlines, grounded Kingfisher Airlines may emerge as the first to benefit from foreign direct investment. Debt-ridden Kingfisher, which has been grounded since Oct. 1 following labor unrest, is currently in talks with various investors, including Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, for a possible stake sale. Aerospace industry sources indicate that the Persian Gulf-area carrier is close to buying a 48% stake in the Indian airline for about 30 billion rupees ($553 million).

India’s leading private airline Jet Airways announced plans to take delivery of four new A330-300 aircraft from Airbus by year-end, an airline official says. The first of the four “new, state-of-the-art series” aircraft was delivered on Dec. 12, the official adds. “The remaining aircraft are likely to be delivered later this month.”