NASA Chief Hails Chandrayaan-3 Launch: ‘India Demonstrating Leadership’

New Delhi: As India celebrated the launch of its third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, on Friday, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) came in for high global praise.

The chief of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) congratulated ISRO and hailed India for demonstrating leadership.

“Congratulations to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the Chandrayaan-3 launch, wishing you safe travels to the Moon. We look forward to the scientific results to come from the mission, including NASA’s laser retroreflector array. India is demonstrating leadership on ArtemisAccords!” tweeted Bill Nelson.

There is a NASA connect to Chandrayaan-3 as one of its eight payloads is the US space agency’s Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA).

A specialised instrument used for lunar range research, LRA enables scientists to calculate distances on the moon by bouncing signals off the retroreflector and monitoring how long it takes for them to return.

India signed the Artemis Accords last month, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the United States.

The Accords, signed by 26 countries including Japan, Australia, the UK, France and Canada, aim to boost human space exploration on the Moon and Mars and also enhance peaceful relationships between nations.