India "A Step ahead" Of China In Satellite Technology: Space Chief

MOONDAILY

better late than never

New Delhi (AFP) Feb 28, 2005
India is "a step ahead" of China in satellite technology and can surpass Beijing in space research by tapping the talent of its huge pool of young scientists, India's space research chief said Monday.

G Madhavan Nair said India and China were "on par (with each other) as far as rocket technology is concerned," the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

Though China was ahead in planning a manned mission to the moon, "We are a step ahead of China in satellite technology," Nair, chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation, told a gathering in the southern city of Coimbatore.

Two years ago, India announced it would launch a mission to the moon -- the Chandrayan-I or Moon Vehicle I -- by 2007.

The 590-kilogram (1,298-pound) Chandrayan-1 is expected to map the lunar terrain for minerals and conduct scientific experiments.

The 2007 mission also aims at landing a small probe -- an "impacter" module weighing about 20 kilograms (44 pounds) -- on the surface of the moon.

Besides India, the United States, the European Space Agency, China and Japan are planning lunar missions during the next decade.

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INDIA SPACE

India, Italy Ink Pacts To Firm Up Space Ties

New Delhi, India (SPX) Feb 15, 2005
India and Italy Monday signed six bilateral accords, including some involving cooperation on space, science and technology. A high-level Italian delegation accompanying President Azeglio Ciampi signed the accord on space cooperation with ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair in the presence of PM Manmohan Singh.