India's space scientists and technologists will hold a brain-storming session here Tuesday to explore the viability of undertaking a manned mission to the moon by the end of the next decade (2020).
With President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam rooting for such an adventure, about 50-60 experts from top research labs and scientific institutions will get a preview of the ambitious project conceived by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) that is planning to send an Indian astronaut into space on a indigenous space capsule by 2014.
"We have already made a presentation to the prime minister last month (Oct 17) on our capabilities to launch a manned mission into space by 2014. As preparations to launch an unmanned lunar mission (Chandrayaan-1) by 2008 are under way, we will be exploring the prospects of landing an Indian on moon by at least 2020," a top ISRO official told IANS here Monday.
At the meeting, ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair will make a detailed presentation on the pros and cons of launching a manned mission to the moon, the benefits that are expected to accrue from such a mission and the resources required to undertake it.
"We have invited the heads of various research and development (R&D) organisations, including the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Indian Institute of Science, National Aerospace Laboratories and the department of science & technology to ascertain their views on the project and draw a road map for embarking on such a mission," the official said.
Based on the deliberations and feedback from the experts, ISRO plans to prepare a project report for government approval and budgetary allocation in the 11th and 12th five-year plans.
Prime Minister's Science Advisory Council chairman C.N.R. Rao and former ISRO chairmen K. Kasturirangan and U.R. Rao have also been invited to participate in the daylong session and present their views on the multibillion rupee project.
"Though we have the capabilities and resources to undertake such a mission, we need to cover a lot of ground to assess its viability in terms of the prohibitive cost, materials and manpower involved. The issue is not whether we can do, but at what cost and how the country would benefit from it," U R Rao told IANS on phone.
ISRO sources admit a manned mission to the moon would cost the nation a whopping Rs. 200 billion, while a manned mission into space would require about Rs. 150 billion over a seven-year period.
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