India off to the moon..

India's doing something new.. ISRO(Indian Space Research Organization) will launch an unmanned mission to the moon. The mission christened Chandrayaan-1(details) can be directly translated as "Space Craft to Moon".

The mission to be launched on 22nd October 2008 will carry nine payloads; five instruments entirely designed and developed in India, three instruments from ESA , one from Bulgaria and two from the United States. A modified PSLV would be used to boost this into space.

This mission would be followed by one in 2010 which will carry a lunar rover. Great job guys we are so proud of you!!

Stay tuned for live webcast on 22nd Oct 2008 0550 - 0650 Hrs (IST) (here)

Heres a a good initiative

With all the political ruckus in the country here is a nice initiative by a group of students and some young working professionals to try and remedy this. They have come up with a website to educate the educated section of the society to go out and vote. They also have some data which shows how narrow some of the victory margins in past elections were.. which means every vote counts. Here is the website. www.voteindia.in