“Our determination to touch moon has become even stronger. We came very close, but we need to cover more ground. Learnings from today will make us stronger and better. The best is yet to come in our space programme. India is with you.”Narendra Modi to ISRO scientists
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked ISRO scientists not to be disheartened by the hurdles in the moon mission Chandrayaan-2 and asserted that there will be a "new dawn".
ISRO's plan to soft land Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander on the lunar surface veered off script in the early hours of Saturday, with the lander losing communication with ground stations during its final descent.
PM’s Words of Encouragement
Encouraging the scientists hours after ISRO announced that it had lost communication with the lander, Modi said, “When ISRO has its encyclopedia of success, some hurdles cannot put its flight out of trajectory.”
Modi was also seen hugging and consoling ISRO chief K Sivan.
The prime minister had earlier watched the proceedings as the lander began its descent towards the moon’s surface at an ISRO centre.
After the Vikram lander lost contact with ground stations just minutes before its anticipated touchdown on the moon, Modi had tweeted, “India is proud of our scientists! They’ve given their best and have always made India proud. These are moments to be courageous, and courageous we will be!”
Although the lander unfortunately went dark, the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is healthy and safe in the Lunar orbit, an ISRO official said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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