The Satellite Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, India's first moon mission craft is seen from behind glass at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) center in Bangalore
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| India-Pakistan |
| India's first unmanned moon mission set for October 22 launch |
| 2008-10-07 |
| BANGALORE: After repeated delays, India's first unmanned mission to the Moon - Chandrayaan-1 - will be launched on October 22 from the spaceport at Sriharikota, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sources said on Monday. The sources said weather conditions permitting the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C11) carrying the Chandrayaan-1 satellite will blast off at 6.20 AM, the sources said. The Rs 386-crore lunar mission was cleared by the Government five years back but the historic launch faced several delays. The space odyssey moved one more step closer to fruition when the satellite was transported from here to Sriharikota in a special vehicle last week and has since reached the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in the coastal town, about 100 km from Chennai. The spacecraft is expected to be mated with ISRO's work-horse rocket, PSLV-C11 later this week, the sources said. The spacecraft would carry 11 payloads -- five from India and six from the US, Europe and Bulgaria. It would orbit the Moon at an altitude of 100 km mapping the topography and the mineralogical content of the lunar soil. Chandrayaan-1 would also carry a Moon Impact Probe payload for demonstrating the technology needed towards landing on the Moon's surface. India believes the lunar mission is a step towards its quest for exploration of outer space and inter-planetary missions. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #7 The Satellite Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, India's first moon mission craft is seen from behind glass at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) center in Bangalore |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-10-07 19:05 |
| #6 From the early 1960s... Abdul Kalam is the one on the right.  Assembling a sounding rocket payload  transporting the payload to the launch pad |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-10-07 18:11 |
| #5 Actually the 'father' of the Indian nuclear program was Homi Bhabha - a Zoarastrian. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homi_J._Bhabha The 'father' of the space program was Vikram Sarabhai http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikram_Sarabhai Abdul Kalam worked for Sarabhai. He played no role in the nuclear programme being a rocket scientist. He designed the first Indian launch vehicles. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-10-07 17:53 |
| #4 Over here, too, sludge. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-10-07 17:46 |
| #3 In all fairness the father of the Indian missile/nuclear wapons program, and future president, is a Muslim (APJ Abdul Kalam). Then again, he was an indophile Muslim, not one of the crazies. Muslims who don't cause problems over there and actually contribute to society are probably appreciated over there |
| Posted by: sludge 2008-10-07 17:28 |
| #2 Never, ever, bet against the Hindu guys in the lab coats. |
| Posted by: Mike 2008-10-07 17:00 |
| #1 Shabash! |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-10-07 15:43 |