Russia plans men on Mars by 2009

Russian scientists announced an ambitious project to send a manned mission to Mars by 2009.

If realised, it could trump Nasa's bid to put men on the Red Planet - announced by US President George W. Bush this year - by more than a decade.

Managers from Aviacosmicheskie Sistemy, an aerospace firm in Moscow, said their objective could be achieved using existing technology for no more than $4.9 billion, about a fifth of Nasa's projected costs.

Six astronauts will make the trip in a low-budget craft based on a Russian Zvezda module carrying a 70-ton landing unit and a rover.

"This will be a pioneering flight," said Georgiy Uspensky, a member of the team. "It's a very attractive and realistic idea."

Viktor Ivanov, a colleague, said the project could "solve the problem of national prestige." A Russian space agency official said the project had little chance of succeeding on such a low budget, but the scientists are confident of securing private funding.

Blueprint
* The aerospace firm plans to set up a space station beyond the Moon as a staging post for the three-year manned flight to Mars.

* Six astronauts will make the trip in a low-budget craft based on a Russian Zvezda module.