India's first unmanned moon flight project Chandrayan-I is likely to be launched in April, preparations for which are in the final stages, a senior ISRO official said.
MUMBAI: India's first unmanned moon flight project Chandrayan-I is likely to be launched in April, preparations for which are in the final stages, a senior ISRO official on Sunday said.
"Antenna has been installed in the Ground Station located near Bangalore, the satellite is undergoing final stages of integration and testing, while activities regarding the launch vehicle is also progressing satisfactorily," ISRO Director, Publications and Public Relations, S Satish told here.
Satish was here to deliver a lecture on ISRO's activities for students attending the Fourth Science Expo being held at the Nehru Science Centre here.
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III (GSLV Mk-III), which will take communication technologies, such as distance education, weather forecasts and mapping, to the next level of speed and resolution, would be launched either by this year-end or early next year, he added.
"Chandrayan-I will help in mapping of moon surface to trace the chemicals and minerals found there. It will give lead to scientists for studying the evolution of moon and earth," the ISRO official said.
Satish also said that the Chandrayan project was important to gather more information about other planets.
"This is the first step towards going beyond moon, to other planets. It would also give boost to technology for further missions," he said.
The hallmark of this project is that it will carry six payloads of other countries too like US, UK, Sweden, Germany and Bulgaria to moon along with five ISRO payloads.
"The fact that we are able to invite foreign payloads itself is testimony of our supremacy in this field," Satish said adding ISRO GSLV Mk-III launch would only strengthen the country's space programme.
"GSLV Mk-III launch will make us self sufficient. We will be able to launch satellites of 4000 kg or more. Along with Chandrayan, this is a major project we are looking forward to," the ISRO official said.
After a successful 2007, the organisation hopes to replicate the success in 2008 as well.
"We conducted successful test of cryogenic engine, we had the capsule recovery experiments were successful and now we are hoping for the success of Chandrayan-I and GSLV Mk-III.
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