15 Nov : The successful landing of the Moon Impact Probe on the lunar surface has not only boosted the confidence of ISRO to undertake inter-planetary travel in future, but also conveyed across the globe that India means business in the field of space.
"It (the landing of the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) and the Chandrayaan-I mission) has validated many of our assumptions and many of the principles involved in interplanetary travel. It’s really a big boon (for ISRO). We can now take up travel to any other planet with confidence," a jubilant ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair told a news agency in an interview, a day after the historic event.
On Friday night,the Indian space programme achieved a unique feat with the placing of the Indian tricolour on the Moon’s surface.The Indian flag was painted on the sides of MIP, one of 11 payloads of Chandrayaan-I spacecraft that successfully hit the lunar surface at 20:31 hrs.
This is the first Indian built object to reach the surface of the Moon.
Nair said Chandrayaan-I was a coup of sorts in the branding stakes and ISRO’s brand has skyrocketed with India’s first unmanned Moon mission.
The Chandrayaan-I mission has sent a clear signal internationally that India is really a space power and it means business.
"That message has been given to everybody," Nair said.
Asked if Team Chandrayaan-I would be rewarded with some kind of incentives, the ISRO chairman said he personally would like to do that, but noted that there is a process that has to be gone through. "I have to work out something with the government."
Nair also indicated that ISRO and Russia’s Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) are expected to finalise exact sharing of work on Chandrayaan-II (slated to be launched by 2012) in December this year.
Chandrayaan-II is a joint lunar mission involving a lunar orbiting spacecraft and a Lander/Rover on the Moon’s surface.
ISRO will have prime responsibility for the Orbiter and Roskosmos will be responsible for the Lander/Rover.
Chandrayaan-II will be launched on India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
Nair said Chandrayaan-I Project Director Mayilsamy Annadurai will continue in that position for Chandrayaan-II as well.
France, EU congratulates India for successful landing of MIP
France and the European Union on Saturday hailed the successful landing of India’s Moon Impact Probe (MIP) on lunar surface and expressed keenness to strengthen the existing scientific cooperations with this country in the field of space.
"France, on behalf of the European Union, warmly congratulates India for the successful landing of the Moon
Impact Probe and the launch of the lunar exploration programme," a statement issued by the French Embassy said.
France is the current chair of the 27-nation European Union.
"This remarkable success of the Indian space vehicle confirms anew India’s eminent position among the world-class scientific and technological powers," the statement said.
It said France and the European Union "look forward to the strengthening of the existing scientific cooperations with India in the field of space, which are particularly promiseful
for the development of science and knowledge worldwide."
The MIP, carrying India’s national tricolour landed on the Moon last night, making India the fourth country to mark its physical presence on the Moon.