Russia [Images] and India are considering a joint unmanned landing on the moon, Georgy Polishchuk, general director of Russia's NPO Lavochkin, said.

He was speaking at a news conference dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of pioneering Russian space scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.

Russia has come up with a new lunar programme, called Luna-Globe, which provides for two missions. The first is to begin in 2010 and will be concerned with exploration of the moon's inner structure, prospecting for its minerals and remote sensing of the planet. The second mission envisages landing a new-generation lunar vehicle weighing 400 kilogrammes on the surface of the moon.

"While the first journey will be all-Russian, the second one may involve India," Polishchuk said.

"This second mission will kick off in 2011. India will supply a rocket and an over-flight module (from the earth to the moon) and Russia, a landing module, the lunar rover, and a set of scientific instruments. Additionally, the joint project will blast off from an Indian space port," Polishchuk added.

He said the joint landing plans would be discussed on September 24 at talks to be held as part of the International Astronomical Forum in Hyderabad. 

He said the third stage of moon exploration would deal with soil sampling and the fourth (2012-2015) with a programme code-named Lunar Range.

"It will be concerned with the development of instrument packages, exploration of prospected minerals on the moon, and other research," Polishchuk said.

The Lunar Range project will be given final shape and approval in 2008.

NPO Lavochkin is one of Russia's leading companies known for the development and use of unmanned vehicles for the exploration of space and heavenly bodies and for defence purposes. The company has plans for space-based observatories and journeys to the mars, moon and sun.

RIA Novosti