INDIA yesterday became the first nation to have successfully reached Mars on its maiden attempt, a historic feat for the country’s indigenous space program.

    “India has reached Mars. History has been created. India is the only country to have succeeded in its first attempt,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced from the headquarters of the state-owned space agency in Bengaluru.

    “Humanity would not have progressed if we had not taken such leaps into the unknown and space is the biggest unknown out there,” he added.

    On a lighter note, Modi said that Mars has got its MoM (Mars Orbiter Mission). “The moment this mission was named MOM, I knew it would not disappoint. Mom’s never fail,” he added.

    Hailing the scientists of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Modi said: “You have inspired future generations. Despite our many limitations, we aspired for the best. The success of our space program has been an example of our achievement.”

    The MoM was launched in November last year. By placing its mission in the Mars orbit, India has now joined the United States, the European Space Agency and the former Soviet Union in the elite club of Martian explorers.

    At a little over US$74 million, the mission, called Mangalyaan, is said to be the cheapest inter-planetary mission ever to be undertaken.

    (SD-Agencies)