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India contemplating manned space program

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Posted: Fri, Nov 3 7:17 AM ET (1217 GMT)

The Indian space agency ISRO is reportedly putting together
a proposal that could result a manned spacecraft launch by
early next decade and potentially a manned mission to the
Moon by the end of the next decade. Indian publications
reported this week that ISRO plans to unveil the human
spaceflight program proposal next week. That plan calls for
the development of a two-person capsule that could be
launched on the country's GSLV launch vehicle, with the
first manned flight planned for 2014. Those reports
indicated the ISRO plan would also feature manned missions
to the Moon by 2020, but few details about that phase of the
effort were disclosed. India is also developing technology
for a recoverable spacecraft that will be tested on a
spacecraft scheduled for launch early next year. The total
cost of the manned orbital program, which has yet to be
approved by the Indian government, is estimated to be
approximately $2-3 billion.

Related Links:
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Hindustan Times article:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1833877,00040005.htm

NDTV.com article:

http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?category=National&template=sciencetech&slug=ISRO+unveils+indigenous+space+mission&id=95734&callid=1

The Guardian article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/space/article/0,,1938510,00.html

New Asia Times article:

http://www.newasiatimes.com/news/reports/?report=11899

The Times of London article:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25689-2434427,00.html