NASA ready to jointly explore solar system with ISRO

Washington: NASA has lauded Chandrayaan-2, saying India’s moon mission has “inspired” the US space agency which is keen to jointly explore the solar system with ISRO, a day after the lunar expedition suffered a snag while attempting a historic landing on the uncharted South Pole of the Moon.

The Indian Space Research Organistion’s (ISRO) plan to soft-land the Chandrayaan-2’s Vikram module on the lunar surface did not go as per script in the early hours of Saturday, with the lander losing communication with ground stations during its final 2.1-km descent.

“Space is hard. We commend ISRO’s attempt to land their Chandrayaan2 mission on the Moon’s South Pole,” the National Aeronautics and Space



Administration (NASA) said in a tweet.

“You have inspired us with your journey and look forward to future opportunities to explore our solar system together,” it said.

A senior Trump administration official also praised India’s Chandrayan-2, describing ISRO’s efforts as “incredible”.

“We congratulate ISRO on their incredible efforts on Chandrayaan2.

The mission is a huge step forward for India and will continue to produce valuable data to fuel scientific advancements. We have no doubt that India will achieve its space aspirations,” Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Alice G Wells tweeted.