Thiruvananthapuram, April 4 – ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan praised NASA's latest Artemis II mission on Saturday, expressing confidence that the mission would be "grandly successful".
NASA's Artemis II Moon mission launched from the US state of Florida on April 2, carrying four astronauts on the first crewed flight around the Moon in over 50 years. It is the American space agency's first crewed mission under the Artemis programme. The four-member crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Narayanan told reporters, "In 1969, for the first time, man landed on the Moon. Again, after 57 years, they want to go for a landing through the Artemis programme. This is a step towards that. This is an orbital mission. I think they are going around the Moon, and then they are coming back."
The ISRO chief mentioned that he too had witnessed the launch on television and also had the opportunity to see the mission's launch vehicle during his visit to the Canadian Space Agency.
"I also had the privilege to watch the launch, which took off on April 2nd, early morning at around 4:05 am (IST). In fact, during our last visit to the Canadian Space Agency, the vehicle was under construction. We had the opportunity to see the first stage."
The ISRO chief also praised the technical aspects of the Artemis II launch vehicle.
"It is a great effort towards the development of the human scientific entourage. I am 100 per cent sure that this mission will be grandly successful, leading to the landing (of humans on the moon) later. It is a very important mission for human beings."
Narayanan also spoke about India's Gaganyaan mission astronauts undertaking Mission 'Mitra' in Ladakh.
"We inaugurated the programme the day before yesterday. They are at around 4 km altitude and undergoing detailed training. It is part of the Gaganyaan training programme."
India's astronaut-designates or Gaganyatris, who have been selected for ISRO's first human space mission, are currently undergoing high-altitude training in the cold desert of Ladakh.
Further, about India's Moon mission and upcoming launches, the ISRO Chairman said: "We are working towards the immediate launches. This financial year is just starting. A lot of things are planned."
"We are working towards all the programmes under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Whatever best effort is required, we are doing... to achieve the necessary things for the country in the space activity," he added.