PSLV launch, a milestone in space exploration: PM

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the scientists for the successful launch of PSLV placing in orbit France’s SPOT 6 satellite and the Japanese spacecraft PROTIERES. “I am delighted at having witnessed today’s launch of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C21 carrying foreign satellites. On behalf of all fellow Indians, I warmly congratulate the department of space and all members of the Isro fraternity for this spectacular success of Isro’s 100th mission, today’s launch is a milestone in our nation’s space exploration,” said Dr Singh.

The Prime Minister also congratulated EADS Astrium of France and Osaka Institute of Technology of Japan for successful launch of their satellites, SPOT 6 and PROITERES. He said that the launch of these satellites on board an Indian launch vehicle was testimony to the commercial competitiveness of Indian Space Industry and is a tribute to Indian innovation ingenuity.

The Prime Minister said, “This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the commencement of our space programme. I am also happy to see here today many stalwarts of our space programme in its earlier years, including the project directors of our initial space missions. “Given the string of successes since then, we often forget how challenging space technology is and what a relatively new field it continues to be. India is justly proud of its space scientists who have overcome immense odds to setup world-class facilities and develop advanced technologies.

“We owe a great deal to pioneers like Dr Vikram Sarabhai and Prof. Satish Dhawan. I remember working closely with Prof. Dhawan when I was a member of the Space Commission in the late 1970s, and I am privileged to have had this long association with our space endeavours. It is befitting that this new state-of-the-art mission control centre is named after Prof. Dhawan,” the PM observed.
Commending the founding fathers of the space programme for showing that India can afford to invest in high technology areas, he hoped that the benefits reached the people at large. He added that space missions were not a loss for the country and the successes notched up by Isro were a fitting answer to questions posed whether a country like India could afford costly space programme.