ISRO chief visits Tirupati temple to seek divine intervention

From Tirumala, Radhakrishnan left to Srikalahasti, a holy town and a municipality near Tirupati

K Radharkishnan, chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Monday offered prayers to Lord Balaji at the Tirumala shrine at Tirupathi. He visited the shrine ahead of the historic moment of Isro launching its Orbiter to Mars from the Sriharikota space station.

Radhakrishnan offered prayers on Monday morning for the successful launch of PSLV-C25, which will carry the Orbiter to Mars. Speaking to reporters after offering his prayers to Lord Balaji, Radhakrishnan reiterated his confidence on the launch on Tuesday. “The PSLVC25, will lift off at 2.38 p.m. tomorrow. It is a long mission and the spacecraft is expected to reach Mars by September 2014.” From Tirumala, Radhakrishnan left for Srikalahasti, a holy town and a municipality near Tirupati. It may be noted, the top brass of Isro, the primary space agency of the Indian government and amongst the six largest government space agencies in the world, visit the temple shrine prior to almost all the launches.