Bangalore: India shared NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) grief, and there is a lesson for every space faring nation from the disintegration of the space shuttle Columbia, chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Dr K Kasturirangan said on February 2.

Kasturirangan said space faring nations are a close-knit community and any loss in one nation is shared by others. "Columbia's break-up is a lesson for everybody," he said.

Kasturirangan said ISRO, like every other space faring nation, is eagerly awaiting the findings of the investigation into the Columbia tragedy.

He said the disintegration would not affect India's space programme.

Kasturirangan recalled the talk that he had along with the then Prime Minister I K Gujral with the Karnal-born Kalpana Chawla during her first space mission in 1997.

PTI