The mission called Chandrayan-I will cost 3.86 billion rupees (83 million dollars) and plans to put a 400 kilogramme (880 pound) satellite into orbit within the next five years using an Indian-made polar satellite launch vehicle.

Space officials say the major spin-offs of the programme would be the creation of a new cadre of planetary scientists in India in the next three years.

The satellite will probe the physical characteristics of the lunar surface, officials say.

The plan to undertake a lunar mission was suggested by Indian scientists and backed by aeronautical and astronautical engineers three years ago.

SPACE.WIRE