India's first moon probe develops snag

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) - India's first unmanned moon probe has developed a glitch and may have to shorten its two-year mission, Indian Space Research Organisation official said Friday.

Chandrayaan-I launched from India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh in October of last year was to help expand the scientific knowledge of the moon.

"The system's star sensor which provides the orientation for the spacecraft malfunctioned but the mission will continue with the support of backup sensor," S. Satish, spokesman for the Bangalore-based Indian Space Research Organisation, told CNN.

"The malfunction was detected about a month back and we are still investigating the reason behind the failure of the sensor," said Satish. "The primary purpose of Chandrayaan-I has already been complete," he said.

The probe which was launched at a cost of millions of dollars was heralded as a major milestone for Indian space program.