PM reaches for moon on Aug 15

For the hundreds of children perched on the ground in their raincoats, listening to their Prime Minister on Independence Day at the Red Fort, the promise of a trip to the moon was enthralling. Perhaps, someday, they would be a part of the mission which, PM A.B. Vajpayee today promised the nation, would be accomplished by 2008.

While the children braving the downpour cheered, Vajpayee christened the mission Chandrayan Pratham — the first mission to the moon for India. While there have been announcements in the past, including some by ISRO chairman K. Kasturirngan, now the Prime Ministerial announcement brought the moon, a good 3,84,467 km away from Earth, a little bit closer.

ISRO with its present ability to launch small satellites of about 75 kg in a fly-by mission or even place a 140-kg satellite in an orbit around the moon to conduct scientific experiments and study the moon’s core. Two years ago it also developed the Geo Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, which has India in an elite club of only five other countries capable of launching their own satellites.

Vajpayee also announced in his speech that mobile services will begin next week in J-K. ‘‘Mobile telephone services in J-K will start from next week.’’