ISRO awaiting government nod for more funds for Chandrayaan-2

SRIHARIKOTA: Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO) today said it was awaiting the government's approval for more funds to develop a lander and a rover for its second moon mission ' Chandrayaan-2'.

ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan said "we are awaiting for the approval for the lander for Chandrayaan 2". A rover was also being developed, he said here.

In view of changes in the Russian space programme on moon, its agreement with ISRO was further being delayed. "It means virtually we won't get a lander from Russia till 2017. So, we are planning to a develop a lander ourselves," Radhakrishnan, here in connection with the preparations for November 5 Mars Orbiter Mission, told reporters.

There had been a marginal enhancement in the budget. "That's why we are seeking funds from the government," he said adding developing a lander was complex than developing a rover for the Moon.

Elaborating on the delay of the mission, Radhakrishnan, who is also the Space Commission Chairman, said "the limiting factor is developing a lander.... May be by 2016 a lander might get developed and qualified."

India had undertaken its maiden moon mission Chandrayaan-I in October, 2008.

To a query on the launch vehicle for Chandrayaan-2, he said it would be a Geo Stationary Launch Vehicle. "May be after two successful GSLV launches, we would be confident of launching Chandrayaan 2."

He also said there could probably be another launch of GSLV Mark III in March-April 2014.