The Chandrayaan 1 spacecraft blasted off from the Sriharikota space center in southern India at dawn, kicking off a two-year mission aimed at laying the groundwork for further Indian space expeditions. Chandrayaan means "Moon Craft" in ancient Sanskrit.
"What we have started is a remarkable journey," said G. Madhavan Nair, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
India's national television channels broadcast the event live. Some scientists thumped their chests, hugged each other and clapped as the rocket shot up into space.
India is hoping the mission will boost its space programme into the same league as regional powerhouses Japan and China.
Chief among the mission's goals is mapping not only the surface of the moon, but also what lies beneath.
A principal objective is to look for Helium 3, an isotope which is very rare on earth but is sought to power nuclear fusion and could be a valuable source of energy in the future, some scientists believe.
If the space probe does achieve a safe landing, India will be only the sixth country to reach the Moon.
During its mission, Chandrayaan 1 will also measure radioactivity on the Moon's surface and beam back elevation maps of Planet Earth's nearest neighbour.
India will also drive home its status as a rising power with more than one billion people by leaving its national flag on the Moon.
"The moon belongs to the global community and nobody can make special claim on its surface," said G Madhavan Nair, head of the ISRO. "But our presence will be established through this mission."
India launched its space programme in 1963 by developing satellites and launch vehicles. The country has commercially developed this capability and now launches the satellites of other nations at highly competitive rates. The Chandrayaan 1 spacecraft blasted off from the Sriharikota space center in southern India at dawn, kicking off a two-year mission aimed at laying the groundwork for further Indian space expeditions. Chandrayaan means "Moon Craft" in ancient Sanskrit.
"What we have started is a remarkable journey," said G. Madhavan Nair, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
India's national television channels broadcast the event live. Some scientists thumped their chests, hugged each other and clapped as the rocket shot up into space.
India is hoping the mission will boost its space programme into the same league as regional powerhouses Japan and China.
Chief among the mission's goals is mapping not only the surface of the moon, but also what lies beneath.
A principal objective is to look for Helium 3, an isotope which is very rare on earth but is sought to power nuclear fusion and could be a valuable source of energy in the future, some scientists believe.
If the space probe does achieve a safe landing, India will be only the sixth country to reach the Moon.
During its mission, Candrayaan 1 will also measure radioactivity on the Moon's surface and beam back elevation maps of Planet Earth's nearest neighbour.
India will also drive home its status as a rising power with more than one billion people by leaving its national flag on the Moon.
"The moon belongs to the global community and nobody can make special claim on its surface," said G Madhavan Nair, head of the ISRO. "But our presence will be established through this mission."
India launched its space programme in 1963 by developing satellites and launch vehicles. The country has commercially developed this capability and now launches the satellites of other nations at highly competitive rates.
India's moon Mission blasts off
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