Will the Minister of SPACE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the ISRO is planning another moon mission jointly with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the USA;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the aims and objectives of the mission;

(c) the quantum of funds contributed by both the countries for the project?
ANSWER: MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRIES OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY):

(a), (b) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) of & (c) Department of Space (DOS) is considering participation in a future moon mission named ‘Moonrise’ being conceptualized by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of USA to bring samples from moon. Moonrise mission is one of the three planetary missions short-listed by NASA for final selection by middle of 2011.

On final selection and also with necessary approvals, ISRO is proposing to provide an Orbiter spacecraft to communicate with sample return spacecraft of JPL. Initial estimate indicates `. 150 crore as the cost of the Orbiter including its operations.

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