SALEM: The Department of Geology of Periyar University has embarked on a research aiming to contribute scientific inputs to the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) first unmanned mission to moon - Chandrayan.

The ISRO along with the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, sponsors the department's study on `Reflectance spectra of rock and minerals and optimisation of spectral banks for lunar mapping.'

The Head of the department, Prof. S. Anbazhagan, who heads the research, said reflectance of anorthsite rocks (a type of mono mineralic rocks) in the Salem region and bafalt (rocks formed after volcanic eruption millions of years ago) in Maharashtra would be studied to arrive at a conclusion on using the type of cameras and sensors to map the lunar surface. "Previous research works had found out that the lunar surface was made of anorthsite and bafalt rocks," he said.

"We have identified anorthsite rocks in Sithampoondi village, near Tiruchengode, and have started analysing them," he added.

The research will also analyse the chemistry controlling the reflectance spectra of these rocks. "Reflectance spectra of individual minerals of the rocks would also be studied so as to identify the minerals and chemistry of the lunar surface during the mission," he said.

Remote sensing satellite

ISRO's remote sensing satellite, planned for launch by the modified version of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in 2007, would hover at 100 km per hour over the moon to gather data on mineral resources and water.

Mr. Anbazhagan said the department would continue the planetary remote sensing study and participate in the planetary exploration programme after the post-launch period of the mission also.

The department had received Rs. 10 lakhs as assistance for this research work.

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