ISRO waits for results from moon mission

As scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation are decoding the data sent by Chandrayaan-1 from the moon, the space agency is confident that India's first lunar mission would reveal 'unexpected results and things'.

"The data have been collected from unexplored area. We are well positioned with these data. We can tell the world that we have found many things, which no explorer has seen so far," Chandrayaan-I Project Director M Annadurai said on Saturday.

Replying to a question on whether India can achieve any unexpected results from the mission, he said scientists were working on the data.

"It may take some more time to review, re-evaluate and publish," he said.

Stating that the research carried out on the stone brought from the moon some 30 years ago had revealed the existence of water there only at the fag end of 2008, he said India's data would definitely show the world something which nobody had seen so far.

To another question, he said there were absolutely no plans to bring oil or water, even if they existed on the moon.

"We are not trying to bring oil, water or any other mineral except Helium-3, for utilising on earth. We are exploring whether humans can sustain in the conditions prevailing on the moon," he said.

The scientists were also carrying out research on water and food habits and its sustainability as preparation for the manned moon mission planned by the country five years later, Annadurai said. He added that India was studying "what is moon, and how it can be totally utilised for the benefit of human beings. All major countries like United States, Japan and Europe are planning to resume their moon missions in a couple of months."

On reports that there was a reverse brain drain to India after the successful launch of Chandrayaan-1, Annadurai said though there was no large-scale influx from abroad, ISRO was able to stop exodus to other areas. "Gone are the days when ISRO was searching for talents. Now many are trying to get into the organisation," he said.

Moreover, ISRO had received messages from a lot of non-resident Indians from across the globe, stating "Today we feel proud to be Indians," he said.