Kasturirangan hails ISRO chief, Modi govt for Mars Mission

The success of 'Mars Mission' will give India its rightful place in the world as it was the outcome of the good leadership and excellent team work, President of the National Academy of Sciences and former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Dr K Kasturirangan said here today.
Hailing the Indian scientists and Centre for the successful 'Mars Mission', the eminent scientist complimented the "leadership" of ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan. He also referred to the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet to the mission.
The former member of Planning Commission emphasised that our young scientists have made it possible under the able leadership of the ISRO chief.

Kasturirangan, who was in the steel city to take part in a program on 'Women's empowerment in Science and Technology' hosted by National Academy of Sciences, Jharkhand Chapter, at CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory auditorium, said, "It was really a low budget initiative but involved complex technology."
Stating that India can now work with the world in planetary exploration, he said, "We are in the club of few nations such as the US,Russia and European Union in achieving the feat.
"We should not compare ourself with other countries as far as the Mars Mission's success is concerned," he replied when asked where India stands today in space research.

"Our space programmes are country-oriented to explore possibilities for improvement in various social sectors such as education, health, agriculture, weather, environment, industrialisation, communication etc., he said refusing to draw parallels between our success with anyone.
"The core objective of our space programme was to ensure benefits to our social systems, for which we have invested much," he said.