I didnt know india had such a developed space program…..even more advanced than china’s they are going to the moon in 2005….does anyone have more information about their r&d on rockets and capsules???
First Indian May Step Onto Moon In 2005
ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC): aiming for the moon in 2005. (ISRO photo)
New Delhi/June Satnews Asia/ — The 13th man, and first non-American, to walk on the moon may well be an Indian.
Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), recently announced the launch of an extremely ambitious Indian manned moon exploration program to a stunned nation.
Dr. Kasturirangan said India has all necessary means available to launch a lunar mission.
“Given the level of space technology level reached, we are ready to get the program started,” he was quoted as saying. A moon landing by Indian astronauts can take place by as early as 2005.
He added that it was necessary to set up a unified research and training center for the program. A special research team will work on the details of the project within six months, and will submit a report to the government.
India’s space exploration program has been carried out since 1972. Last April, India became one of only a few nations with a capability to launch satellites into geostationary orbit following the successful launch of its GSLV launch vehicle.
The “moon race” between America and the former Soviet Union ended when American Neil Armstrong of the Apollo 11 mission set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. Eleven other Americans followed, with America’s moon missions ending with Apollo 17. No Russian has set foot on the moon.
India, however, has yet to send one of its astronauts into earth orbit. China has announced plans to become the third nation to have a manned space program and intends to place the first Chinese “taikonaut” into orbit within this decade.
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January 2, 2003 at 7:07 pm