ISRO gets scientists' nod for manned space mission
Wednesday, 08 November 2006, 20:30 IST
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Bangalore: The country's top scientists and technologists have endorsed an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) proposal to embark on a manned space mission by 2014. According to an ISRO statement after a daylong meeting on the viability of launching a manned space mission and subsequently to the moon, India's scientific establishment has unanimously agreed that the time was appropriate for the country to undertake such a mission. "About 80 scientists, including 35 experts from leading R&D organisations were presented the study carried out over the last four years to examine the technological challenges of a manned space mission and our capability to undertake such a mission," the statement said. ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director B N Suresh presented the study, while his deputy Madan Lal made a detailed presentation on the various aspects of the manned mission. Soon after the meeting, ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair told IANS the scientific community had agreed to fully support the space agency's endeavour to launch manned missions into space and to the moon as a logical extension. "A manned mission to moon will be a logical extension of our plans to launch a manned mission into space in the next eight years. The priority is to build capabilities and develop indigenous technologies to launch such missions," Nair said. The space agency will prepare a detailed project report, factoring suggestions and recommendations made by the scientific community and the R&D institutes. "The report will be submitted to the government for consideration by Dec," Nair stated. The preliminary estimated cost of the manned space mission is about Rs 100 billion spread over eight years. "There was absolute unanimity on the issue. Everyone feels it's a logical step and have agreed to extend their support to our project," Nair added.
Source: IANS
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