Pact to jointly explore moon signed

PM IN MOSCOW

India and Russia have signed an agreement to jointly explore the moon. The accord was signed in Moscow today before visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Russia's Federal Space Agency, or Roskosmos, said on its Web site.

The agreement will include erecting a laboratory on the lunar surface.

"Russia and India will create a joint space vehicle,'' Roskosmos chief Anatoly Perminov said in the statement. The project will also involve delivery of a complete research laboratory to the moon

The accord will expire at the end of 2017, though it may be extended, Roskosmos said, without being more specific on the time elements of the project.