Wednesday, October 8, 2008

ISRO: Manned Lunar Mission in 2014

Plans to use GSLV instead of PSLV for the project.

Even as it gets set for its first unmanned mission to the moon on October 22, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is busy making preparations for a manned mission to the moon in 2014. The proposed budget for the manned mission is around Rs 1,000 crore.

ISRO plans to use its Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for the manned mission because their Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is not capable of launching a load of over 1,500 kilograms. Even as the proposal is pending clearance, Isro is in the process of identifying the team for the mission. “Our chairman is very keen on the project getting approval. He has asked us to come out with complete proposals internally,” said MC Dathan, director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota Range.

On the proposal, he said a commission had done a preliminary study and the report had been submitted for approval of the Space Commission. “The commission has cleared the proposal and it has been submitted to the government. A high-powered committee is studying the report. It is expected to be cleared in about two months,” he added.

On training the crew, Dathan said, “The Indian Air Force has the capability. But we plan to develop a full-fledged training facility in Bangalore.”

Read the story from the Business Standard

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