Will India's moon project transport energy to earth?

Exploring the possibility of transporting Helium 3,the richest source of energy found on the moon, to the earth and converting it for energy production will be one of the focus areas of the Chandrayan Mission, a senior ISRO official said.

"Space scientists are working on it and Chandrayan series will be continued to find out the potential of the moon and its use for mankind," Dr K N Shankara, Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, said.

Efforts are also on for increasing the solar cell efficiency for energy production. "From 10 per cent, it has already reached 28 per cent and is expected to reach 60 per cent," he said, speaking on "Space Programme for Societal Development".

R&D work is being carried out on building large solar panels on satellites to convert microwave power, which, in turn, can be utilised for power production, he said adding "it would, however, take 20-25 years to achieve it."

ISRO's techniques are being utilised by West Bengal government to find out the sagging of transmission lines, he said.

Space technology is also being utilised to forecast agricultural output three months prior to harvest. "Wheat growth estimates have already been done and we are now doing it for rice and it will be extended to all crops in the coming years."

Referring to the Metsat programme (use of remote sensing technology for detecting the vagaries of weather), Shankara said Indian Meteorological Department is being assisted to establish auto weather stations and Doppler radars for weather forecast.