Russian authorities on space exploration believed Russia may launch a manned flight to Mars in 20 years, local media reported on Monday.
Vitaly Davydov, deputy head of the Russian Space Agency (Roskosmos), said the mission to Mars is "quite realistic" in 20 years, Interfax news agency reported.
"Twenty-year is a good time to prepare such an expedition. I think it is quite realistic," Davydov was quoted as saying.
He also revealed the Roskosmos will begin working on the long-term space program preparing for the Mars Mission in 2012.
"We are now implementing the federal space program covering the period until 2015. In 2012, we will begin working on the program for the period until 2025. I think the preparations for this program will make it clearer when we could launch the mission to Mars," he said.
"Of course, now we cannot give a specific date for a flight to Mars," he added..
Russia is currently focusing on the probing of the planet under the programs Mars-Net ad Phobos Grunt.