Chandrayaan-I launch, a historic moment: ISRO chief

Sriharikota, Oct 22 (UNI) ISRO Chief G Madhavan Nair today described the successful launch of PSLV-C11 carrying Chandrayaan-I as part of India's maiden unmanned moon mission for exploration, as a historic moment achieved against all odds.

Addressing the ISRO community from the Mission control room at the Satish Dhawan space center here, he said ''it is a historic moment as far as India is concerned and we have begun our journey to moon''.

''The first leg of the journey was successful and has gone perfectly well. It's a remarkable performance by the launch vehicle and every parameter was on the dot'', a jubilant Nair said.

The spacecraft has been given sufficient velocity and altitude and left at the right Direction. ''Now It will be orbiting the earth at about 23000 km (apogee) and 250 km(perigee). Subsequently, the spacecraft engines would be used for raising the orbit to the lunar side'', he said.

Observing that the maiden lunar Mission was a remarkable journey for the Indian spacecraft to the moon to unravel the mysteries of the moon, Mr Nair congratulated every one of those who had contributed to this successful journey.

Mr Nair said the ISRO scientists were fighting against all odds for the last four days as there was heavy rains and thunderstom activity. ''Fortunately we had a clear sky and no lightning activity. We could achieve what we wanted in the first leg of our journey.

''The remaining part of the journey (raising Chandrayaan-1 to the lunar orbit) will take about 15 days' time and the team of ISRO scientists is capable of achieving it'', he added.

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