New Delhi: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has approved a mission to Moon project called Chandrayan-I, which is to be realised in the next five years, Lok Sabha was informed today (Dec 10, 2003).

The main objective of the mission would be to launch a lunar probe in a polar orbit of about 100 kms altitude around Moon using indigenous launch vehicle from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Minister of State for Space S B Mookherjee said in reply to a question.

Chandrayan-I, with an approved expenditure of Rs 386 crore, would be devoted to high-resolution remote sensing of the lunar surface features and mineral composition in visible, near infra-red, low and high energy X-ray regions, he said.

Follow-up planetary missions might be decided on the basis of the progress and outcome of Chandrayan-I, he added.

PTI