India launches first Moon mission (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

India has successfully launched its first mission to the Moon.

The unmanned Chandrayaan 1 spacecraft blasted off smoothly from a launch pad in southern Andhra Pradesh to embark on a two-year mission of exploration.

The robotic probe will orbit the Moon, compiling a 3-D atlas of the lunar surface and mapping the distribution of elements and minerals.

The launch is regarded as a major step for India as it seeks to keep pace with other space-faring nations in Asia.

Indian PM Manmohan Singh hailed the launch as the "first step" in a historic milestone in the country's space programme.
***
The mission is expected to cost 3.8bn rupees (£45m; $78m), considerably less than Japanese and Chinese probes sent to the Moon last year.
***
more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7679818.stm

[bananas]

1. Congratulations to India!

For some reason, it reminds me of W.C. Fields and Frosty the Snowman.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrayaan