Mars mission a historic achievement, says Modi

Says success of the space programme a shining symbol of what we are capable of as a nation

India's Mars Mission "will go down as a landmark in history", said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday after Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) entered the orbit of the red planet.

 

"These are all accomplishments that will go down as landmarks in history," said a visibly happy Modi.

 

He congratulated Indians and Isro scientists for the success, despite the constraint of resources.

 

"With today's spectacular success, Isro joins an elite group, of only three other agencies worldwide to have successfully reached red planet," he added amidst applause.

 

Modi, wearing a red coloured jacket, said that 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," he said.

 

The prime minister said: "Travelling an incredible distance, of over 650 million Km, we have gone beyond boundaries, of human enterprise and imagination."

The success of the space programme is a shining symbol of what we are capable of as a nation, he added. 

The success of the mission to Mars will "inspire our scientists to make even greater strides", said President Pranab Mukherjee, describing the mission as a "historic achievement".