India's Moon Mission Set to Blast Off in October or December
NewsLocale (09/22/08) Raghav, Smita

Chandrayaan-1, India's first-ever moon mission, is set to blast off in October using the upgraded version of India's 316-metric-ton Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. Mission objectives for the unmanned mission to be conducted from lunar orbit include mapping helium-3, a non-radioactive material that is believed to be commonly found on the moon and which is seen as a potential fusion fuel source. Other mission objectives will include identifying surface or sub-surface water, mapping height variation of lunar surface features and performing high-resolution mineralogical and chemical imaging of the permanently shadowed north and south polar regions. The current launch window is between Oct. 19 and 26, although adverse cyclone weather conditions could delay the launch until December.
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