India will have its own payload going around the moon in another four years to study the lunar surface, which would help understand the origin of the universe, Indian Space Research Organisation chairman G Madhavan Nair said on Friday.

"It will also help create a scientific temperament among students. It is for the space community to take up the challenge," Nair said.

At a function to mark the 40^th anniversary of the launching of 'sounding' rockets from the Thumba Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, he said, "Strong hands, will and commitment of leaders of VSSC have got us here." The soil of Thumba was 'fertile' having groomed several national leaders, including President A P J Abdul Kalam.

He had watched the first rocket launch from Thumba from the Engineering College campus nearby.