Launch of Chandrayaan 2 Successful, Unfair to Call Mission a 'Failure': Union Minister Jitendra Singh
During Question Hour, Jitendra Singh said even advanced nations like the US, which started their space mission much earlier, could gain success in soft landing only in the eight attempt.
File photo of Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh.
New Delhi: It is unfair to describe the "Chandrayaan Mission" as a failure as technologically the launch was successful, Union Minister of State for Department of Space Jitendra Singh said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The setback in the landing, he said, has only made India's resolve stronger and costs will also be cut in future missions.
Replying to a supplementary in the Upper House during Question Hour, Singh said even advanced nations like the US, which started their space mission much earlier, could gain success in soft landing only in the eight attempt.
"Chandrayaan was a mission watched keenly by all Indians. There was some disappointment but it would be unfair to describe it as a failure...Technologically the launch was successful. Entry into the earth's orbit was successful. Then entry into the lunar orbit was successful. Orbiter is very much there...In the subsequent attempt this will cut down on the cost as well because the lander is also there," he said.
He said the Orbiter has functioned normally and only in the last about 30 kms "this incident took place, which I would not describe as a failure. This has made us wiser. The setback to the landing has only made India's resolve stronger."
Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "Despite setbacks in landing we must remember that Chandrayaan had quite a successful journey until now." Scientific objectives were accomplished including moon surface mapping, topographical studies, radar based studies etc, he said.
Singh pointed out that soft landing could not be a success as in scientific pursuits like this sometimes it is a matter of procedural method and processes. He said there is not a single country which has been able to successfully accomplish softlanding in less than two attempts.
"And so much so that the United States of America which started its space journey much much before us, many years before us when we were still singing the nursery rhyme 'Chanda Mama'...Even United States could manage soft landing only in eighth attempt. But we having learnt from the experience of other nations," he said.
He said the data received from the Orbiter is being provided continuously to the scientific community. In response to a query whether the launch was made to correlate with 100 days of Modi 2, Singh said the chronology and events of launch are designed through astronomical ways.
Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time.
- Monday 25 November , 2019 How Ajit Pawar May Have Changed Maharashtra’s Political Dynamics | Crux+
- Saturday 09 November , 2019 Launch of Kartarpur Corridor Amidst Indo-Pak Strife | Crux+
- Wednesday 06 November , 2019 Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir Case History | Rare Interviews | Crux Files
- Friday 08 November , 2019 LK Advani: The Architect of Hindutva Politics | Rare Interviews
Live TV
Recommended For You
Mardaani 2 and Jumanji The Next Level Box Office Day 1: Hollywood Film Leads
WWE TLC 2019: Date, Time, Match Card and Everything You Need to Know
Football in Snow: Watch Real Kashmir FC Players Practice for I-League in Srinagar
PUBG Mobile Addiction: 20-Year-Old Drinks Chemical Instead of Water While Playing Game
Airtel Users Can Make Voice Calls on Wi-Fi But You Need Airtel Xstream Broadband