Article Posted on : - Oct 24, 2008

ISRO scientists after the successful launch of Chandrayaan-1. PTI photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): The NASA chief today congratulated Indian scientists for the successful launch of India's maiden mission to Moon -- Chandrayaan-1.

"Congratulations to our Indian colleagues on the successful launch of the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, which is carrying two NASA instruments," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said in an email to PTI on Wednesday.

"India's first lunar mission will provide important insights into the lunar environment including data that will help support NASA's ongoing efforts to return humans to the moon," he said.

"This exciting cooperative mission is a major step in our mutually beneficial relationship in civil space exploration. On a personal basis, I am delighted for my Indian colleagues with their new level of achievement," he said.