Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V. Narayanan commended NASA’s recent Artemis II mission, expressing confidence in its success. The mission, which launched from Florida on April 2, marks NASA’s first crewed flight around the Moon in over 50 years. The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Narayanan highlighted the significance of the Artemis II mission, drawing parallels to the historic moon landing in 1969. He mentioned that this orbital mission is a crucial step towards future lunar landings. The ISRO chief shared his firsthand experience of witnessing the launch on television and inspecting the mission’s launch vehicle during a visit to the Canadian Space Agency.
Praising the technical aspects of the Artemis II launch vehicle, Narayanan emphasized its importance in advancing human scientific endeavors. He expressed full confidence in the mission’s success, underscoring its critical role in human space exploration. Additionally, Narayanan discussed India’s Gaganyaan mission and the ongoing training of astronaut-designates in Ladakh as part of the Gaganyatri program.
Regarding India’s upcoming space missions, Narayanan mentioned the country’s progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He affirmed ISRO’s commitment to achieving its space objectives and emphasized the organization’s dedication to advancing India’s space capabilities.
