30 Nov :India will undertake its manned moon mission only after 2020 but is currently exploring the feasibility of a manned space mission, expected to be accomplished in seven to eight years, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Madhavan Nair said.
"Manned moon mission will be taken up after the manned space mission, which may be accomplished in seven to eight years from now. The technical feasibility of the manned space mission is still being explored. At the moment we do not have commitment," Madhavan Nair said, unveiling the three-day ‘Bengaluru Space Expo’ in Bangalore on Saturday.
"While the pre-project (manned space mission) discussions are over, financial approvals are yet to be sought," Nair said.
He expressed happiness over the successful Chandrayaan-1 mission. "The mission was accomplished in record time and in precise manner. Final landing was in 10 seconds, exactly what we had anticipated, which is a record."
Tele-education and tele-medicine were the major two areas benefited by space technology, Nair said.
"Nearly 3,000 students can benefit at a time through tele-education under which 30,000 schools in the country have been linked. Similarly 350 hospitals, including 50 super specialist hospitals, have been linked under the tele-medicine which is another area for "good commercial opportunity," he said.