The Union government on Thursday night approved the Mission for Moon in 2008 to upgrade the technological capability and provide planetary research opportunities for youngsters.
The Lunar Mission, Chandrayan-I, would cost Rs 386 crore with the foreign exchange component estimated at Rs 210.90 crore, an official spokesman told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.
The Lunar Mission, including the establishment of Deep Space Network, is planned for realisation in five years and the launch of mission is targeted in 2008 on board PSLV, the spokesman said.
The Chandrayan-I will help India expand its scientific knowledge about the moon and upgrade the technological capability.
It would also provide challenging opportunity for planetary research for large number of growing young people of the country benefiting the human society at large, the spokesman said.
The main scientific objectives of the Indian Lunar Mission include preparation of a three dimensional Atlas of regions of scientific interest.
It also aims at chemical mapping of the entire surface for elements such as magnesium, aluminium, silicon, titanium and high atomic number elements such as Radon, Uranium and Thorium.
Several space agencies like the European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency and German Space Agency have expressed interest in participating in the Indian mission to Moon, he said
Their involvement, he added, would be considered depending upon the scientific value and their utility in complementing and supplementing the planned mission.
