New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (Nov 7) said that the recent successful launching of INSAT 3E and RESOURCESAT has enhanced the country's prestige abroad and expressed confidence that this would be "a reliable foundation" for India's lunar programme 'Chandrayan-I.'

Vajpayee made the comment when a team of scientists, technicians and officers from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) involved in these projects called on him in New Delhi.

ISRO Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space G Madhavan Nair introduced the team members and presented a model of RESOURCESAT and some of the first pictures taken by the satellite to the Prime Minister. Most of these photographs were taken from the orbit of almost 820-Km above the earth.

Congratulating the team members, Vajpayee said "What is especially heartening is ISRO has achieved this on the basis of self-reliance. You have successfully overcome the challenge of technology-denial by others."

"The production and launch of the INSAT 3E and RESOURCESAT satellites prove our outstanding capabilities in design, fabrication and tracking of satellite systems. I applaud you for now aiming higher. I have no doubt that your recent success will be a reliable foundation for India's lunar programme 'Chandrayaan,' the Prime Minister told the scientists.

He said "every achievement of India fills us with joy. But the achievements of ISRO bring a special pride to all Indians. They give a literal meaning to our affirmation that sky is not the limit for India's ambitions and achievements."

"I often say that India is ready for a long leap. You in ISRO have already taken this long leap into space and have catapulted India into the front ranks of space faring nations," Vajpayee said.

Few nations could boast of such a high rate of successful operations in a calendar year. "True, there have also been a few failures when we look back at ISRO's long journey. But these failures did not deter you. In life, only those succeed who are ready to fail, but are never ready to accept defeat," he said.

"I congratulate one and all in the ISRO family for your sterling work in ensuring that India remains at the vanguard of space technology. Keep up the good work," he added.

PTI