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Chandrayaan-1 is the first Indian Mission to the Moon devoted to high-resolution remote sensing of the lunar surface features in visible, near infrared, X-ray and low energy gamma ray regions. It is the first collaborative mission between ESA and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and also the first Indian scientific mission leaving the earth’s vicinity.

Chandrayaan-1 is aimed at chemical, mineralogical and photo-geologic mapping of the moon in visible, near infrared,low energy and high energy X-rays with high spatial resolution.

Specifically, the objectives will be to carry out high-resolution three-dimensional mapping of topographic features along with the simultaneous mapping of distribution of minerals such as Si, Al, Mg, Ca, Ilmenites (FeTiO3, which may retain 3He) and elemental chemical species including radioactive nuclides. This mapping could unravel the mysteries about the origin and

evolution of the planetary system in general and moon-earth system in particular.