A National Consultative Meeting organized by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) saw 80 top scientists and technologists unanimously voting that India pursue the idea of manned space mission.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Director B.N. Suresh presented technological strengths and challenges study listing milestones that need to be achieved to facilitate a successful mission by 2014 and a first lunar mission by 2020. This would include the indigenous development of an autonomous orbital vehicle capable of being launched by Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), GSLV-Mk II, or GSLV-Mk III, life support systems, improved reliability, and safety and crew escape system.
ISRO says that some of these were available and could be used with augmentation but others would need a fresh start. All told, the preliminary estimated cost of the manned space mission is Rs. 10,000-15,000 crore (USD 2.17- 3.2 billion), spread over a period of eight years
