?I offer my hearty congratulations to Shri Madhavan Nair, Chairman of ISRO and other scientists and engineers working on this mission on this historic success. They have worked relentlessly and with commendable fortitude to place an Indian spacecraft, carrying the tricolour, on the trajectory to the moon.
?I am especially pleased that this project, which was planned by the NDA Government, has been brought to a successful fruition. I had the honour of announcing it in my Independence Day Address to the nation in 2003.
?The mission to the moon is a stupendous achievement by India in the frontier area of space research. What is especially creditable is that our achievement is the fruit of self-reliant efforts. I am sure that, other than the scientific knowledge that Chandrayaan-I will garner, it will also serve as a beacon of inspiration to the younger generation and as a stepping stone to other great feats by India in science and technology.?
