India's space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that it is no longer in contact with its unmanned satellite currently in orbit around the Moon.
The Chandrayaan-1 was launched in October 2008. Two weeks later, it settled into an orbit around the Moon, where its main mission was to map the surface of the Earth's satellite. It was also to look for Helium 3, an isotope which is very rare on Earth but which could provide a future energy source for nuclear fusion.
The launch of Chandrayaan-1 was greeted with euphoria throughout India, because it placed the country in the space race alongside the other Asian space powers of Japan and China, and reinforced its claim to be a major global presence.
The ISRO also has plans to send satellites to Venus and Mars.
Photo of Chandrayaan launch by 29750964@N08 (flickr)
Photo of Chandrayaan mission by 29750964@N08 (flickr)
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