Seoul: The Russian lunar exploration programme Moon-Globe, that envisages to send man on moon, is progressing as planned, Anatoly Perminov, Russian Federal Space Agency Director told reporters here today.

"As for the landing of man on the moon, it is envisaged within the framework of the development of the programme for the years to 2040. Work on it is planned after the year 2007," Perminov said before returning to Moscow.

He also commented on the prospects for sending a crew to Mars. "Such work is in our plans, but will shall handle it after 2030".

During his stay in South Korea, Perminov visited the space centre Naro, being built on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, where he met Deputy Prime Minister, Science and Technology Minister Kim Wu Sik. They also discussed a project of the South Korean space launch system.

The first launch of the South Korean rocket KSLV-1 is scheduled for 2008. Moscow's Khrunichev Space Centre handles the organisation of the programme.

Source : PTI