PARIS -
India's first space mission beyond Earth orbit was launched successfully Wednesday
(Local Time) when an upgraded version of India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(PSLV) placed the Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter into an elliptical transfer
orbit, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced.
The 3,042-pound
(1,380-kg) Chandrayaan-1,
carrying 11 experiments including three from the European Space Agency, two
from NASA and one from Bulgaria, is expected to fire its onboard liquid motor
in a series of maneuvers intended to place it into a 62-mile (100-km)
altitude orbit above the Moon's surface by Nov. 8.
In addition
to 11 instruments designed to map the
lunar surface and determine its mineral content, the satellite includes the
small Moon Impact Probe, which will be jettisoned from the satellite to land on
the lunar surface before the main mapping mission begins. The probe will give
ISRO scientists experience to be used in subsequent lunar landing missions.
In its 14th
launch since 1993, the four-stage PSLV rocket lifted off early Oct. 22 from
India's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, placing Chandrayaan-1 into
an elliptical orbit with a perigee of 158 miles (255 km) and an apogee of 14,204
miles (22,860 km).
The satellite's
liquid-fueled apogee motor is expected to raise the orbit in a series of five
firings to bring Chandrayaan-1 closer to lunar orbit. The last of the engine
ignitions is expected to place the satellite in an Earth orbit of 633 miles (1,019
km) by 239,969 miles (386,194 km).
Once in
lunar orbit, four more firings of the engine will lower Chandrayaan-1 gradually
into its operational orbit of 62 miles (100 km) over the lunar surface, where
it is expected to gather data for two years.
Chandrayaan-1
includes two U.S.-built
instruments provided as part of a cooperation accord between ISRO and NASA.
NASA's willingness to permit U.S. instruments to be launched aboard an Indian
rocket is part of what appears to be a slow warming of relations between the
two agencies following an embargo on space cooperation that the U.S. government
applied following India's nuclear weapon tests.
The new
cooperative atmosphere could lead to more U.S. satellites being launched aboard
Indian rockets, according to government officials in India and the United
States.
Several
nations are targeting the Moon as a principal exploration destination and are
involved in national and multinational discussions about establishing a
full-time manned presence on the Moon. Japan and China both have satellites
in lunar orbit.
The
European Space Agency, whose lunar orbiter was retired in 2006, is weighing
future lunar missions. The United States, whose Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is
scheduled for launch in early 2009, has said it wants to establish a lunar
colony before sending astronauts to other destinations, including Mars.
ISRO and
the Russian space agency, Roskosmos, in November 2007 signed a cooperation
accord for a Chandrayaan-2 mission that would include a lunar orbiter, a lander
and rover vehicle. ISRO would have prime responsibility for the orbiter, with
Roskosmos leading development of the lander and rover elements.
Chandrayaan-2
is scheduled for launch by 2012 aboard India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle.
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