Guwahati, May 31: A visit to the moon would become a reality for Indian space scientists with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) drawing up a detailed programme for relaunching of the "moon mission". Space commission chairman Dr K Kasturirangan as the 'guest of the month' at the Guwahati Press Club last night said the mission was to send a space craft to orbit around the moon at a distance of about 100-km from its centre.
The mission's objective was to upgrade the data collected on the moon's physical and chemical characteristics, including topography, craters, etc., collected in earlier visits to the satellite, the renowned space scientist said.
"It will be technically a very challenging mission to put a space craft in orbit around the moon. As we are now self reliant in satellite launching technologies, we are today better equipped to carry out such a mission", Kasturirangan said, adding that it would give a boost to the country's active participation in planetary exploration.
Stating the earlier missions raised more questions than had answers about the lunar body, the scientist said improved technologies today aroused European countries, China and Japan's interest in moon missions.
ISRO had submitted a Rs 350-crore `Moon Mission' project to the Centre for its approval and the mission could be launched in a month's time if the government gave its assent, he added. Bureau Report