Correct option is D
Correct Answer: (d)
Explanation:
· Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar exploration mission, was launched on October 22, 2008, during the tenure of G. Madhavan Nair as the Chairman of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation).
Information Booster:
· Chandrayaan-1 carried a total of 11 scientific instruments (payloads) from India, the USA, the UK, Germany, Sweden, and Bulgaria.
· A major discovery of the mission was the detection of water molecules on the moon, significantly contributing to global lunar science.
Additional Knowledge:
· (a) Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan: Served as ISRO Chairman during the launch of the successful IRS series satellites and the initial conception of Chandrayaan.
· (b) K. Radhakrishnan: Served as ISRO Chairman during the successful launch of Chandrayaan-2 (2019, but launched by Sivan) and the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) in 2013.
· (c) A. S. Kiran Kumar: Served as ISRO Chairman after K. Radhakrishnan, playing a role in the launch of the GSLV Mk-III and continued space programs.