And we have done it. Another fifteen days and nights, our Chandrayaan would be circling the Earth's satellite at 100 kms from the lunar surface.

It is an extraordinary moment in history. What does this mission expect? Well, it would first of all achieve expansion of scientific knowledge about Moon. Then, upgrade Indian technological capability and provide challenging opportunities for planetary research to young scientists.

The objectives would be achieved through high-resolution remote sensing of moon in the visible, near infrared, microwave and x-ray region of electromagnetic spectrum.

The eleven payloads, five designed and developed in India, three from European Space Agency, one from Bulgaria and two from NASA, would expand various scientific knowledge about the moon.

Thus it is an international effort with India as the captain. As the Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G Madhavan Nair described it, the successful launch is a historic moment in India's space programme. The launch was perfect and precise. The PSLV-C11 has put the spacecraft in the transfer orbit.

This is the 14th flight of ISRO's workhorse PSLV, which had launched 29 satellites into a variety of orbits since 1993, and 13th successive one in a row.

It is by no means an ordinary feat. Congratulations, ISRO. You have lifted upwards not only the spacecraft, but our morale as well. We Indians can now hold our heads high and look to the heavens for more achievements.