India’s arrival on the Red Planet on Wednesday morning brought the country – particularly the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) - accolades from home and overseas.
President Pranab Mukherjee led the nation in congratulating ISRO for the successful Orbit Insertion Manoeuvre of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) that made India the first Asian country and ISRO the fourth space agency to send a satellite to the Red Planet.
“The nation is proud of this historic achievement, which has demonstrated, yet again, India’s space capabilities,’’ Mr. Mukherjee said in his congratulatory message.
Hailing ISRO’s achievement, Vice-President Hamid Ansari said: “I am confident that our scientists will continue to scale greater heights and win more laurels for the country in the field of space exploration in the future.’’
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan hoped the success of this mission would inspire scientists to achieve more milestones and instil a new confidence in all Indians.
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah said: “The Mars mission’s success is continuity to the astronomical heritage laid down by astronomers like Lagadha, Aryabhata, Brahmagupta and Bhaskara.’’
Congratulating ISRO scientists for their remarkable achievement, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said, “Bharat scripted history’’ by becoming the first country in the world to make it to Martian orbit in the very first attempt. “A time when the whole world has its focus on Bharat, this great achievement marks another milestone in the path of glory,’’ the Akhil Baratiya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, Manmohan Vaidya, said in a statement.
Laudatory messages began pouring in on social networking sites as soon as MOM was in Mars’ orbit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ministerial colleagues taking to Twitter to celebrate India’s entry into the elite club of space-faring nations, which have reached the Red Planet.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi sought to set the success in perspective by describing it as a “milestone in the journey that we as a nation envisaged after independence’’. Others in the Congress joined her effort by flagging messages on Twitter that sought to give some credit to the founding fathers of India’s space programme and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who pushed for the Mars Mission.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said the scientific and technological potential in India should be fully developed for use in other sectors. The CPI also congratulated ISRO.
Baijayant Jay Panda, MP, Biju Janata Dal, tweeted: “ISRO scientists continue to make the nation proud. Mars is the first attempt, with puny budget. Object lesson for our public sector.’’
The odds, were stacked against us. Of the 51 missions, attempted across the world so far, a mere 21 had succeeded. But we have prevailed: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) >September 24, 2014A new milestone has been achieved. I congratulate all >@isro scientists and engineers for the historic achievement. >#Mangalyaan .
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) >September 24, 2014
Mangalyaan successfully enters into Mars' orbit. ISRO succeeds in its first attempt. Congratulations.
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) >September 24, 2014
Namaste, >@MarsOrbiter ! Congratulations to >@ISRO and India's first interplanetary mission upon achieving Mars orbit.
— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) >September 24, 2014We are all proud of Indian scientists for creating history by successfully launching cheapest Mars Mission ever
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) >September 24, 2014
I salute India's scientists who helped the nation to realise its dream of sending 'Mangalyaan' to Mars.
— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) >September 24, 2014
>@isro has done what was thought difficult as Mangalyaan enters Martian orbit at first attempt.The Nation salutes your dedication & efforts
— Amit Shah (@AmitShahOffice) >September 24, 2014
Congratulations >@isro for creating history by making Mangalyaan a success on its maiden mission. A proud day for every Indian.
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) >September 24, 2014
Congratulations >@isro for creating history by making Mangalyaan a success on its maiden mission. A proud day for every Indian.
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) >September 24, 2014
