145;Momentous achievement146;

8220;This momentous achievement shall be etched in the history of India as a grateful tribute to our scientific community for their resolute efforts to take India to a global leadership position,8221; Congress president Sonia Gandhi said. 8220;Today is a historic day for India,8221; she added.

BJP8217;s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani said, 8220;Today is a truly historic day for India, a day to be recorded in golden letters.8221; Terming it an 8220;inspirational achievement,8221; Advani wished that India extends this league of achievements in science and technology, 8220;in space, in oceans, on land and everywhere8221;.

Kalam, who conceived the MIP and was on hand to monitor the mission in Bangalore, said, 8220;the landing of MIP will kindle a dream in children. In 15 years, I want to see an Indian on the moon. The moon will be a strategic and economic complex of India in the near future8221;. Chandrayaan-1 has proved that India has space technology and it can 8220;push8221; any instrument in space, Kalam said, adding, 8220;We are cost-effective and have excellence in space technology.8221;