Article Posted on : - Oct 23, 2008

India's first unmanned scientific mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-1,successfully takes off. PTI Photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Parliament on Wednesday congratulated the Indian space scientists on the successful launch of Chandrayaan-1, the country's maiden mission to the Moon.

As the House met for the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee lauded the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for achieving the landmark of launching a mission to the Moon.

�This historic event marks India's entry into select band of lunar explorer countries and its growing stature as an emerging space power,� he said.

In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari said the successful launch of Chandrayaan-1 was �indeed a moment of pride� for the country.

Ansari on his behalf and that of the entire House congratulated ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair and scientists, technicians and all the people associated with the mission.

The House gave a standing ovation for the achievement.

India scripted a new chapter in its space programme by launching its maiden moon mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 6.22 am on board the indigenously built rocket PSLV C-11.