URL: http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sto...32078,00.html?

"The $260-million project will aim to study the moon, but critics say the money would be better spent on social programmes

BANGALORE - India's national space research agency is pushing ahead, despite criticism, to launch a mission to the moon by 2007 to boast its advances in space technology."

And a little later .....

"The Times of India said the spacecraft, called the 'Lunar Polar Orbiter' would be designed so as to orbit the moon at an altitude of 100 km.

Three potential sites have been identified for the landing, the report said, adding that scientists would seek to resolve questions related to the presence of water on the moon.

The spacecraft would also carry instruments for gamma-ray and X-ray spectroscopy to understand the chemistry of the moon, in addition to imaging sensors to map its surface.

But the mission would most likely be unmanned.

Dr Kasturirangan said India was not in favour of a manned mission because it would involve 'heavy costs and several specific experiments'."

URL: http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sto...32078,00.html?



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Regolith on 2002-07-15 19:49 ]</font>

But the mission would most likely be unmanned.

Now there's a laugh. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] What do they think? Has India developed a manned space program while we weren't watching? And it may already be capable of reaching the Moon?!

Ah, the perils of PR reporting. Of course it's going to be unmanned.

After the Super-Power Moon Race, are we now going to get an Emerging Nations Moon Race, or what's going on?

Harald

Let's see...

India initiates a manned space program and succeeds in establishing a moon base. The base is staffed by eight Indian nationals, seven Hindis and one Muslim.

Pakistan claims that India is "repressing the Muslim minority on the moon" and immediately begins its own manned space program to protect him.

The US - at UN urging - is forced to reopen the Apollo program so we can send multinational peacekeepers to this newest "hot spot."

__________________
Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by ignorance or stupidity.
Isaac Asimov

History repeating itself all over.

Why can't our leaders just grow up?

OK, which is it, a lander or an orbiter? If you are going to land, there is no reason to waste delta vee for a polar orbit.

__________________
Any day you wake up on "the right side of the dirt" is a good day.

T. Anderson