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India and Solar System Exploration

In 1982 the Indian Space Research Organization announced ambitious plans to conduct planetary exploration missions, specifically identifying Mars, Mercury, and Venus as high priority candidates. The missions, which could commence around the turn of the century, would be launched by India's GSLV, now scheduled for its maiden flight in 1998. A proposed 250-kg class Mercury orbiter has already attracted some attention with a suite of scientific instruments which could include high-resolution cameras, magnetometers, and multi-band radiometers and spectrometers. No program commitments had been made by the end of 1994 (References 124-126).

REFERENCES

124. Press Trust of India, 6 September 1992.

125. All-India Doordarshan Television, 23 September 1992.

126. H.P. Mama, "An Indian Spacecraft to Mercury?", Spaceflight, June 1993, p. 211.

Sources and Resources

• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

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