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ISRO to discuss manned mission to moon 6 Nov, 2006 l 1542 hrs ISTlIANS
BANGALORE: India's space scientists
and technologists will hold a brain-storming session on Tuesday to explore the
viability of undertaking a manned mission to the moon by the end of the next
decade.
With President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam rooting for such an
adventure, about 50-60 experts from top research labs and scientific
institutions will get a preview of the ambitious project conceived by the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) that is planning to send an Indian astronaut
into space on a indigenous space capsule by 2014.
"We have already
made a presentation to the prime minister last month (Oct 17) on our
capabilities to launch a manned mission into space by 2014. As preparations to
launch an unmanned lunar mission (Chandrayaan-1) by 2008 are under way, we will
be exploring the prospects of landing an Indian on moon by at least 2020," a top
ISRO official said.
At the meeting, ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair
will make a detailed presentation on the pros and cons of launching a manned
mission to the moon, the benefits that are expected to accrue from such a
mission and the resources required to undertake it.
"We have invited
the heads of various research and development organisations, including the
Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Indian Institute of Science, National
Aerospace Laboratories and the department of science & technology to
ascertain their views on the project and draw a road map for embarking on such a
mission," the official said.
Based on the deliberations and feedback
from the experts, ISRO plans to prepare a project report for government approval
and budgetary allocation in the 11th and 12th five-year plans.
Prime
Minister's Science Advisory Council chairman C.N.R. Rao and former ISRO chairmen
K. Kasturirangan and U.R. Rao have also been invited to participate in the
daylong session and present their views on the multibillion rupee project.
"Though we have the capabilities and resources to undertake such a
mission, we need to cover a lot of ground to assess its viability in terms of
the prohibitive cost, materials and manpower involved. The issue is not whether
we can do, but at what cost and how the country would benefit from it," U R Rao
said.
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