Sriharikota/New Delhi: India’s Mars mission is a major step forward in exploring the solar system that was completed by Indian scientists in just 15 months, said the euphoric scientific community yesterday.
“Indians can be proud after spending Rs50bn on Diwali firecrackers, which don’t go beyond 10 metres and with Rs5bn, we are going to Mars,” said Professor U R Rao, former ISRO chairman.
Amitabha Ghosh, chairman, Science Operations Working Group — Mission Operations at the NASA Mars Exploration Rover Mission, said it’s a significant milestone for India.
“It is important to develop capability and also try to do something unique and not something done before. The real moment for India will come when it enters into Mars gravitation,” Ghosh said.
Renowned space scientist K Kasturirangan commended the way Indian scientists were able to complete the mission within 15 months of the announcement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
“I think first of all given the 15 months’ time to take the mission to first level is something unbelievable for space programme of this level... something we all should be proud of,”
Kasturirangan said.
“It will become an important milestone for India when it completes 300 days and enters the Mars orbit,” Kasturirangan said.
Mission director P Kunhikrishnan said: “With the precise injection of the spacecraft in the desired initial orbit, the crucial part of the mission for its long journey to Mars has been achieved. It is the 25th mission of the PSLV rocket.”
IANS
