ISRO gets Ten-fold rise in grants for scientific missions

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Bangalore, Jul 13 (UNI) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will make a ten-fold more expenditure in the 11th plan for Earth Orbit Man-mission space programme including the ambitious Chandrayan I and II projects, its Chairman G Madhavan Nair said today.

"While in the last five-year plan period Rs 360 crore was spent on exploration of space programme, in the 11th plan ISRO would spend over Rs 3000 crore," the ISRO Chief said.

Delivering a Public Lecture on 'Challenges in space exploration: Global perspectives and Indian initiatives' on the occasion of Eighteenth Mid-Year Meet, organised by the Indian Academy of Sciences at the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) here, Mr Nair said that union government had already sanctioned funds for a study-project for Man-space programme.

He said that the study-project which was expected to submitted next year would touch upon building up large space systems like space stations, servicing and refuelling of satellites in space and material processing which promise greater economic benefit to the nation.

On the Chandrayan-I mission Mr Nair informed that the project was under progress and was slated for launch during next two years. The Chandrayan-I projects involve 11 scientific instruments including 8 from other countries. While India will have three instruments, European Agency will have five and United States contribute another three for the ambitious project. The Spacecraft of Chandrayan-I mission will remain in space for 3 years rotating 100-km away from Lunar orbit and provide vital atmospheric data of the Moon.

"Over 30 scientific institutions across the country have actively involved with ISRO on the Chandrayana-I" project, he said.

He also said Chandrayana-II project was expected to be launched by 2018. The Chandrayana-II was also envisaged the spacecraft orbit moon at closer distance and also have plans to land a robotic instrument to collect dust from its surface.

Maintaining that exploration of outer space, using planetary missions, would be one of the future activities for ISRO with follow-on missions to Chandrayana-I. A Lunar Observatory, a Mars Orbiter and Asteroid Orbiter and Comet Fly by as well as some technology to outer solar system, would be the next target of ISRO.

Since these missions call for significant and critical technological development indigenously which will be the priority of ISRO, he said.

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