November 15, 2008	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 16, 1429

BANGALORE, Nov 14: An Indian probe landed on the moon on Friday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) announced, in a milestone for the country’s 45-year-old space programme.

The probe touched down on the moon at 8:34pm (1504 GMT), 25 minutes after it was ejected from an unmanned spacecraft orbiting the moon, spokesman

S. Satish said.

“During its descent from Chandrayaan-1 an onboard video camera transmitted lunar pictures to the Isro command centre,” Satish said in Bangalore where the national space agency is headquartered.

Scientists monitoring the probe cheered as Isro chairman Madhavan Nair announced the success of the country’s first lunar mission, which began on Oct 22 when a rocket transported Chandrayaan-1 into space.

The probe, carrying three instruments and with the Indian flag painted on its outer panes, settled in a crater in the moon’s south pole.

Nair said the landing was perfect.

“We have now successfully put our national flag on the lunar surface,” he told a news conference.—AFP