CHANDRAYAAN -1

The fundamental question to understand the origin and evolution of the universe , solar system , planetary atmosphere and living system have been the driving force behind man’s quest for space exploration . One of the major interests has been the investigations of the planets and their satellites .

With the four billion years of solar system history preserved in it .Moon the nearest neighbor of the earth has always evoked intense curiosity of mankind. Since the initiation of the lunar exploration programme as early as 1959, more than 100 exploratory missions have been carried out and wealth of lunar data has been accumulated. However the critical and fundamental questions about the Moon’s origin ,formation and interior structure ,Chemical/ Mineralogical composition still exist .

Chandrayaan 1 is the is the first instrumented Indian Mission to the Moon and also the forst ISRO (Indian Space Reserch Organisation )venture to leave earth’s gravity , The mission is aimed at high – resolution remote sensing of lunar surface in visible , near infrared ,low and high energy Xray regions to prepare the three dimensional atlas of both near and far side of moon and conduct chemical mineralogical mapping of the entire lunar surface for distribution of elements using eleven statc-of –the art instruments . Chandrayaan 1 Mission is one of the most exceptional example of international collaboration towards exploring the moon.
Aghilesh .M