ISRO, NASA ink MoU on India's moon mission

Bangalore, May 9 (UNI) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) today signed an MoU to include two US scientific instruments onboard India's first Lunar mission Chandrayaan-I, to be launched early 2008 by Apollo Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Satish Dhawan spaceport at Sriharikota.

The MoU was signed by NASA administrator Dr Michael Griffin and ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair.

The US would be providing a mini synthetic aperture Radar and a moon minerology mapper. Chandrayaan would also be carrying payloads from Europe.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Griffin said, ''It is my hope and belief that as we extend the reach of human civilisation throughout the solar system, the US and India will be partner on many more technologically challenging and scientifically rewarding projects.'' Dr Griffin will be the first NASA administrator to visit India in three decades. He said, '' I very much look forward to the opportunities to see first hand India's impressive space facilities and learn about your remarkable work.'' Dr Nair said, ''ISRO looks forward to several more cooperative mission as we have always believed that together we can achieve more.'' The inclusion of US instruments has given a fillip to the Indo-US space cooperation, which dates back to the very beginning of an Indian space programme.

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