"Remember, Ability To Overcome Setback Within Us": PM On Chandrayaan 2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said "faith and fearlessness" are the two teachings he has received from Chandrayaan 2 launch, which he said is a "special mission in many ways".

On "Mann Ki Baat", his monthly radio address, PM Modi this morning talked about the successful launch of Chandrayaan 2 in the second attempt earlier this week. "Sometimes, we do face temporary setbacks in our lives, but always remember that the ability to overcome it is also within us," he said.

Chandrayaan 2 was launched on Monday, a week after the first attempt to launch India's ambitious moon mission was called off due to technical snag. 

The mission is "special in many ways" and it will "deepen understanding of the Moon", PM Modi said today. 

On Monday, PM Modi watched the Chandrayaan 2 lift-off on a giant screen at his office in Delhi. He was also seen clapping with the ISRO scientists when the rocket successfully placed the Chandrayaan 2 into orbit.

Today, in his radio address, he praised the hard work by the scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

"The way our scientists corrected all the technical issues one by one in record time and launched Chandrayaan 2, it is unprecedented in itself. This great feat of our scientists has been seen by the whole world. We all should be proud of this," PM Modi said. Despite the "delay in the launch", he added, "it is surprising for many people that landing time hasn't changed".

Chandrayaan 2, billed as ISRO's most complex and prestigious mission, will make India the fourth country to soft land a rover on the lunar surface after Russia, US and China. According to the space agency, on the day of landing - estimated on September 7 - the lander Vikram will separate from the Orbiter and then perform a series of complex manoeuvres.

"2019 has been a great year for India's space missions," PM Modi said today as he also talked about the test-launch of the anti-satellite (ASAT) missile in March when India became the fourth nation after the US, Russia and China to have the capability to launch missiles to destroy satellites in low-Earth orbit. 

This was the second episode of Mann Ki Baat after PM Modi was elected for a second term with a huge majority in the national elections.