Chandrayaan - indian mission to moon

The date for launching Chandrayaan-1, India's first scientific experiment to the moon, would be announced next month,said Nair, who is also secretary to the Department of Space, said on Thursday.

"There are a lot of expectations from the mission. It is going to be a unique mission in which you will get the total mapping of the moon, which does not exist today," he told reporters on the sidelines of the International Conference on Aerospace Science and Technology, organised by the National Aerospace Laboratories.

"We are trying to look for rare elements on the surface of the moon. The information will help us further exploration," Nair said. On the date of launch, he said, "The launch date will be announced next month. "September is the earliest," he added.