ISRO has finished study for mission to the moon — Raje

August 2: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has conducted preliminary studies to examine the scientific aspects and feasibilit...

August 2: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has conducted preliminary studies to examine the scientific aspects and feasibility of undertaking a mission to the moon, Minister of State in the Department of Space Vasundhara Raje told the Lok Sabha today.

Replying to a question, she said these studies were primarily related to the examination of possible scientific objectives, conceptualisation of mission involving the spacecraft and the feasibility of using Indian launch vehicles to launch such a spacecraft into the lunar orbit.

The mission was expected to take about five years from the date of approval, she added.

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Raje, however, declined to specify the cost of the lunar mission as the instrumentation details were yet to be worked out.

The lunar mission would provide a big impetus to the country’s scientific pursuits, particularly in areas of space navigation and robotics, she said, noting that the recent discovery of water on the lunar surface had reactivated world interest in lunar exploration.

The Minister said that ISRO had not approached any other space agency for collaboration in the mission.

Replying to a supplementary, she said that ISRO was not covered by the post-Pokharan nuclear test sanctions imposed by the United States.

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