India's first moon mission to take off

India will launch a locally built rocket for the country's first unmanned mission to the moon on Oct 22, the head of the project said yesterday.

"If at all there is any delay, it will be because of the weather, otherwise I don't foresee any technical difficulties," M. Annadurai said.

The launch, earlier scheduled for April but delayed due to technical difficulties, has been given a window between Oct 20 and Oct 28 for takeoff from a southern India town.