The Open University - India's Moon shot to yield data

India's first mission to the Moon will provide data for two Open University researchers. Mahesh Anand and David Rothery, of the Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research, are co-investigators of a project that has gone into space on board the Indian Space Research Organisation's polar satellite launch vehicle. The Chandrayaan-1 Imaging X-ray spectrometer will carry out elemental mapping of the Moon using an X-ray fluorescence technique. Dr Anand said: "This will tell scientists more about the nature and make-up of the lunar surface. It's important to understanding the origin and evolution of the Moon and the possibility of utilising lunar resources."