'High point of space programme'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 18. The President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, the Vice- President, Mr. Krishan Kant, and the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, have congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisations and its scientists for the successful launch of the first developmental flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from Sriharikota this afternoon.

In a message, Mr. Narayanan said the launch, followed by the injection of the satellite GSAT-1 into its orbit was a high point in the country's space programme, formally begun in 1972 with the setting up of the Space Commission and the Department of Space.

The event, while catapulting India into the unique feat of crossing the geo-stationary milestone in space programmes has also showcased to the world the tremendous achievement that the nation has made in the highly challenging field of space exploration and satellite launching, including indigenisation programmes, overcoming various odds.

Mr. Vajpayee said Indian scientists and engineers had succeeded despite technology denials by other countries and said it showed that the spirit of swavalamban or self- reliance could help overcome the stiffest challenges in every sphere of nation- building.

Urging the scientists to follow up on today's test flight towards operationalisation of the GSLV for launching INSAT type satellites, he said India could look forward to the day when the ISRO would launch spacecraft not only to orbit the earth, but also venture farther into space.

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