UNI
 
Bangalore, Jan 8: India's maiden galactic venture, the lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 will take off in early 2008, Indian Space Research Organization chairman G Madhavan Nair said on Sunday.

In an interview to UNI, he said the mission is in progress and the satellite would takeoff with a PSLV vehicle onboard in early 2008 as per the schedule.

He said ''the design review had been completed and most of the technical issues have been resolved''. Some important issues have been identified and would be completed.

Besides the Indian payload of mapping the moon's surface for minerals, the Chandrayaan -I would carry three European payload, one Bulgarian and two American payloads.

Asked about missions beyond moon, Nair said, ''We have a dream, we are asking people to come out with ideas''. He said Moon could be a base for planetary explorations. Besides studies could also be made to mine minerals in moon's surface.

On new satellite programmes, he said Radar Imaging satellite (RISAT) which will add new dimension to weather watching in the country would be launched in 2007 enabling more precise meteorological forecasts.

The payload onboard of RISAT would enable to look through the cloud cover besides offering day and night imagery capability.

INSAT 3D would also be equipped with a sophisticated meteorological satellite that could look very finely on cloud cover, water vapour and provide much better profile of cloud pattern.

It would also have an 18 channel sounder.