A group of top space scientists and technocrats on Tuesday unanimously resolved on India embarking on a manned mission to space.

A daylong meeting, convened by the Indian Space Research Organisation, gave a go-ahead to the mission, likely to be completed in about eight to nine years at a likely cost of over Rs 10,000 crore.

Emerging out of the meeting, ISRO Chairman G Madhavan [Images] Nair said the mission would face several challenges, including development of life support system and ensuring the safe return of the Indian astronaut.

The meeting was the first to be held by ISRO after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] sought a national debate on such a mission.

ISRO had made a detailed presentation on the Indian space endeavour recently. ISRO had pointed out that it was ready to take up such a mission.

Top scientists who attended the meeting included former ISRO chairmen U R Rao and K Kasturirangan, Prof Yashpal, Dr Roddam Narasimha and National Aerospace Laboratories Director A R Upadhya, besides other top scientists of ISRO.