With higher allocation of funds for space research, Indian space scientists have started integrating satellites for the moon mission Chandrayaan-1 which is a scientific investigation spacecraft. The mission is to cost Rs. 386 crore (USD 87 million) and will create a three-dimensional atlas using a high spatial and altitude resolution of 5-10 meters of both the near and far side of the moon.

It will also conduct chemical and mineralogical mapping of the entire lunar surface for distribution of elements such as magnesium, aluminium, silicon, calcium, iron and titanium with a spatial resolution of about 20 km and high atomic number of elements such as radon, uranium and thorium with a spatial resolution of about 40 km.

Chandrayaan-1 will carry 11 scientific instruments onboard- five Indian and the rest from European Space Agency (three), Nasa (two) and Bulgarian Acadedmy of Sciences (one).