Article Posted on : - Sep 24, 2014

NEW DELHI (PTI): From President Pranab Mukherjee to NASA, all came out with praise for ISRO after it successfully placed on Wednesday its Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) spacecraft in the Red Planet's orbit on the very first attempt.

"Hearty congratulations & best wishes to ISRO Team on Mangalyaan's success; nation proud of this historic achievement," the President tweeted.

Noting the "landmark occasion" for India, Vice President Hamid Ansari said he joins "the entire country in saluting them (scientists) on their success".

"I am confident that our scientists will continue to scale greater heights and win more laurels for the country in the field of space exploration," Ansari said.

In her message commending the ISRO scientists, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that the achievement would be a source for inspiration "for generations to come".

"India earns its admirable position in the world as one of the pioneering space exploring nations with Mangalyaan. It is a milestone in the journey that we as a nation envisaged after Independence," said Gandhi.

She added that it was the "courage, passion and imagination" of the team of space scientists and researchers led by ISRO Chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan which had made the mission a success.

NASA, which has just launched its own MAVEN mission to the Red Planet, also congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the feat.

"#MAVEN team congratulates @ISRO for its #Mars arrival! @MarsOrbiter joins the missions studying the Red Planet," NASA tweeted.

"Thank you MAVEN team!," ISRO tweeted its acknowledgement of the message from the US space agency.

Congratulations poured in for the scientists from politicians, Bollywood celebrities and common people as well with many sitting in front of television early in the morning to witness the historic moment.

"It is a very proud day for all Indians. Our scientists at ISRO have shown a miracle," said melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, summing up the feelings of all countrymen.

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam said that the success of Rs 450-crore Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) has given the nation a reason to smile.

"ISRO has yet again given the nation a reason to smile...

Well done," Kalam, who is known as the father of India's missile programme, tweeted.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the event marks the culmination of a decade's worth of hard work.

The announcement that India would launch a mission to Mars was delivered by Singh during his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort in 2012.

The international media noted how India has "beaten its Asian rivals' to the Red Planet, even "outdoing the Americans, the Soviets and the Europeans in doing so on a maiden voyage".

People took to social networking media to express their joy and pride at the achievement.

"Mangalyaan... Bharat Mata ki Jai! Historic! Only country to have succeeded in first attempt, on budget less than Hollywood film... Our scientists have achieved what others could not... Badhai, Pyaar, Sneh, Abhinandan, aur Jai jai kaar! MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission)," Amitabh Bachchan, 71, posted on Twitter.