New Delhi: President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam feels that Mars will become a sought-after planet for human exploration for wealth and habitat in a few decades.

"New technological advances in space research, material science, communication and transportation technology will make it possible," Dr Kalam, who witnessed the spectacle of the Red Planet last midnight (August 29 night) with his team through a telescope, said.

The beautiful and colourful features of Mars, apart from the scientific aspects in the Southern sky and our expanding universe, inspired him, a Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesman said on August 30.

Mars is now at its closest to the Earth in 60,000 years.

PTI