World salutes ISRO for launch of maiden lunar mission

Shortly after the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft began its historic space odyssey, the scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) were congratulated and applauded for their achievement that catapulted India into an exclusive club of six moon-faring nations. Instruments from the US and Europe are on-board the unmanned spacecraft.

“The US congratulates India on the successful launch.

This is a proud moment in India history and demonstrates India’s technological prowess by joining the international community in the peaceful exploration of space,” American Ambassador to India David C Mulford said.

Mulford said the US was proud to participate in the mission as the country had provided two instruments for it.

“Ahead of today’s launch, scientists from the United States worked closely with their Indian partners to prepare the US contribution to the Chandrayan spacecraft, exemplifying the ideals of our bilateral partnership,” he said.

David Southwood, director of science at the Paris-based European Space Agency (ESA), said the European-made instruments aboard India’s moon probe were the hallmark of closer cooperation between the two space powers.

“In an era of renewed interest for the Moon on a worldwide scale, the ESA-ISRO collaboration on Chandrayaan-1 is a new opportunity for Europe to expand its competence in lunar science while tightening the long-standing relationship with India — an ever stronger space power,” Southwood said in a statement from Paris.

“The entire world is looking at us,” said ISRO Chief G Madhavan Nair of the global interest in the mission.