ISRO's new mission to study greenhouse gases

Encouraged by the discovery of ice on the moon's surface by Chandrayan-I mission, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) would launch a dedicated satellite to conduct a study about greehouse gases, with funding from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Th proposed mission would be the first by ISRO to study green house gases. Once successful, it would place the Indian space agency on par with NASA of US and other nations in this unique study. In a brief chat with newsmen on the sidelines of a function, former ISRO Chief and Planning Commission Member Dr K Kasturirangan said the launch of the satellite, which was only in design stages, would take place in the next two to three years.

ISRO's proposal to launch satellites for studying greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, comes at a time when concerns were raised across the world over the growing impact of climate change and global warming. ''The US and Japan have already launched such satellites and the idea is to see whether India can look at the greenhouse gases using satellite sensors,'' he added. Stating that the Union Environment Ministry would play a significant role in this and promising its full support for such missions, Dr Kasturirangan said the funding terms were being worked out.