Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 20: The countdown for the launch of Chandrayaan-1, India's first unmanned moon mission, has begun today at the Satish Dhawan Space centre at Sriharikota.

The spacecraft will be launched on Wednesday at 6.20 a. m.

The spacecraft would be carrying 11 payloads (scientific instruments) and weigh about 1,380 kg at the time of its launch, according to reports.

Chandrayaan-1 satellite would orbit the Moon at an altitude of 100 km mapping the topography and the mineralogical content of the lunar soil.

Chandrayaan-1 would also carry a Moon Impact Probe payload for demonstrating the technology needed towards landing on the Moon's surface.

India believes the Rs 386-crore lunar mission is a step towards its quest for exploration of outer space and inter-planetary missions. (ANI)