India joins elite group with its lunar mission

India readied its first lunar mission last night, seeking to convert its new wealth into political and military clout and join an elite group of nations with the scientific know-how to reach space.

In the last year Asian nations have taken the lead in exploring the moon: Japan and China both sent up spacecraft last year, and India’s Chandrayaan-1 will join them in orbit around the moon for a two-year mission designed to map the lunar surface. Chandrayaan means “moon Craft” in ancient Sanskrit.

The moon mission comes just months after a deal with the US that recognises India as a nuclear power.