US astronauts to go to Mars after 2020

Thursday, 06 January 2005, 20:30 IST
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AHMEDABAD: American scientists are preparing to return to the moon and send a man to Mars as part of a new project by space agency NASA, a US official said here. Scientists are designing a new crew exploration vehicle spacecraft as part of a venture called Project Constellation, said Lee Morin, deputy assistant secretary for science at the US Department of State. The return to moon would take place between 2015 and 2020, after which the Mars exploration would be carried out, Morin told IANS on the sidelines of the 92nd Indian Science Congress here. He has himself accompanied several US space exploration missions as a space medicine expert. "The project has been given the go ahead by President (George W.) Bush and scientists are already actively involved in the job," said Morin, who presented a paper on the applications of aerospace medicine required to sustain astronauts in space. While in space, astronauts suffer from a range of peculiar cardiovascular and neurovestibular diseases owing to the high altitude, low pressure and zero gravity. India has its own centre at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Bangalore. According to Morin, US and India have tremendous potential in areas of earth observation science, satellite technology, satellite navigation, natural hazards research and disaster management. "Through scientific and technological cooperation and farsighted commercial endeavours, and in an appropriate policy and business environment, assets can be leveraged to the benefit of both nations and contribute to sustainable global economic growth and scientific advancement." The "Next Steps in Strategic Partnership" between India and the United States cover cooperation in civilian space programmes, high technology trade and nuclear activities.
Source: IANS
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