An unmanned space probe was launched from Andhra Pradesh to embark on a two-year mission of exploration.
The launch of the robotic Chandrayaan 1 probe, which will orbit the Moon compiling a 3-D atlas of the lunar surface and mapping the distribution of elements and minerals, is regarded as a major step for India as it seeks to keep pace with other space-faring nations in Asia. The chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Madhavan Nair, said it was a momentous milestone in India’s approach to Space.
India, China, Japan and South Korea all aim to possess a share of the commercial satellite launch business and see their space programmes as an important symbol of international stature and economic development.
In fact, the recent space walk by Chinese astronauts was a supreme symbol of that country’s economic and scientific endowment. India is following closely and has now commenced it’s own race to the moon.
