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MUMBAI:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Russia's Federal
Space Agency (Roskosmos) have signed an Agreement on joint lunar
research and exploration. Mr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO, and
Mr A Perminov, Director, Roskosmos, signed the Agreement in Moscow
on November 12, 2007 during the visit of the Prime Minister of India
to Russia. This cooperation envisages Chandrayaan-2, a joint lunar
mission involving a lunar orbiting spacecraft and a Lander/Rover
on the Moon's surface. ISRO will have the prime responsibility for
the Orbiter and Roskosmos will be responsible for the Lander/Rover.
A few scientific instruments from other space agencies may also
be accommodated on these systems. Chandrayaan-2 will be launched
on India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) around
2011-12 time frame. This agreement is a major milestone in the long-standing
cooperation between India and Russia in the area of outer space.
 Activities
for launching Chandrayaan-1, India's first unmanned mission to moon
during April 2008 are progressing well. The spacecraft is in the
final stages of integration and testing, and will be launched onboard
India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This mission features
a spacecraft orbiting around the Moon for two years at an altitude
of 100 km mapping the topography and the mineralogical content of
the lunar surface. Chandrayaan-1 will also have a Moon Impact Probe
payload for demonstrating the technology needed towards accurate
landing on the Moon's surface. Chandrayaan-2 is the next logical
step for more detailed and in situ study of the Moon.
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