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Saturday, October 18, 2003

No plan to undertake a manned mission to space: ISRO

Press Trust of India
Chennai, October 17

The Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Dr Madhavan
Nair, on Friday ruled out the possibility of undertaking a 'manned mission'
to the space, saying that such a programme was not on the cards.

"'We do not find it necessary. The Resourcesat-1, launched today was equal
to half a dozen people in space for a period of five to six years," he said
speaking to newsmen after the launch, which took place amidst heavy rain.
The answer came when newsmen asked whether there was any programme by ISRO
to undertake a manned mission like the one done by China.

Nair said the ISRO was going ahead with its first 'unmanned mission' of the
Moon within the next five years. The mission, titled 'Chandrayaan', will
cost Rs 380 crore and ISRO proposed to use the PSLV for the planned lunar
mission. Improvements with regard to tracking and command control would have
to be made before using the PSLV, which had to travel at least 3.5 lakh kms
from the earth.

Nair said the second launch pad in Sriharikota, built at a cost of Rs 400
crore, is expected to be commissioned by the middle of next year. ISRO was
also planning to use the second launch pad for its future GSLV and PSLV
missions and also for the proposed launch of GSLV-Mark three.

The ISRO was planning at least three launches every year for the next five
years, Nair said.

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