India can afford Mars mission: Space scientist

Silences critics of the country's Rs 450 crore Mars Orbiter Mission

Silencing critics of India's Rs.450 crore Mars Orbiter Mission, an Indian space scientist Tuesday said that India can afford the spend on the mission.

Congratulating the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) scientists on the successful launch of the Mars orbiter, U R Rao, a former ISRO head, said the country can afford the spend.

"India spends around Rs.5,000 crore on Diwali purchases and Rs 450 crore to reach Mars is affordable," he said.

Congratulating ISRO scientists, Rao said "It (Tuesday) is a great day for ISRO and Department of Space".

He said the long journey has started.