November 14, 2007 

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Russia�s Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) have signed an Agreement on joint lunar research and exploration. Mr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO, and Mr A Perminov, Director, Roskosmos, signed the Agreement in Moscow on November 12, 2007 during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Russia. This cooperation envisages Chandrayaan-2, a joint lunar mission involving a lunar orbiting spacecraft and a Lander/Rover on the Moon�s surface. ISRO will have the prime responsibility for the Orbiter and Roskosmos will be responsible for the Lander/Rover. A few scientific instruments from other space agencies may also be accommodated on these systems. Chandrayaan-2 will be launched on India�s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) around 2011-12 time frame. This agreement is a major milestone in the long-standing cooperation between India and Russia in the area of outer space.

Activities for launching Chandrayaan-1, India�s first unmanned mission to moon during April 2008 are progressing well. The spacecraft is in the final stages of integration and testing, and will be launched onboard India�s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This mission features a spacecraft orbiting around the Moon for two years at an altitude of 100 km mapping the topography and the mineralogical content of the lunar surface. Chandrayaan-1 will also have a Moon Impact Probe payload for demonstrating the technology needed towards accurate landing on the Moon�s surface. Chandrayaan-2 is the next logical step for more detailed and in situ study of the Moon.