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NEW DELHI, India, Dec 12 (Reuters) - India's state-run space programme has begun a feasibility study for an unmanned mission to the moon, the government said on Wednesday.

The four-decade-old Indian space programme has been successful in making communication and earth imaging satellites and launch vehicles for them, but no exploratory missions into space have ever been launched.

"The trip to (the) moon will be entirely based on the conclusions of the (feasibility) study," the government said in a statement.

No time-frame was given for the feasibility study.

The statement said the scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation wanted to conduct experiments aimed at understanding the lunar surface.

"India is embarking on the programme in the backdrop of self reliance achieved in the design, development and commissioning of communication as well as launch vehicles and rockets," the statement said.

ISRO scientists have in the past said it could take them five to six years to launch the mission, once the government gave the go-ahead.

09:52 12-12-01

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