India 4th Country To Land On Moon, NASA Says Glad To Be A Partner

HOUSTON, TX (IANS) – Space agencies of the US, the UK and Europe have congratulated the success of India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission after India became the first nation in the world to land near the South Pole of the moon. India also became the fourth nation to make a soft landing on the moon after the erstwhile USSR, the US, and China.

“Congratulations ISRO on your successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar South Pole landing! And congratulations to India on being the 4th country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon. We’re glad to be your partner on this mission!” Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, said posted.

“Incredible! Congratulations to ISRO, Chandrayaan_3, and to all the people of India!!,” European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher wrote. “What a way to demonstrate new technologies AND achieve India’s first soft landing on another celestial body,” he added.  Emphasizing ESA’s support in the process, he said the agency “is learning great lessons and providing crucial expertise”.