What were the main difficulties that you faced during the mission?
"The first was that the regular PSLV had to be augmented. The strap-on motors had to be redone. Since it was not done before, we had to do thorough testing on ground. It was not a case of getting things right as you go along. And of course we were running against time. The moon will not wait for anyone."
"Even during the launch day, this had there were two propellant problems. Everyone including the chairman Madhavan Nair, who was also the project director before I took over was there to give suggestions."
"We were getting continuous advice from other senior people also. Around 4 40 in the morning, we knew we were on track. Then, the weather was inclement. But that also fell in place. A Russian correspondent who was there quipped, 'All the gods seem to be working overtime for you.'"
"Another interesting thing is that when you do science in India, it is unlike other places. Indian culture is that you believe in science, do your bit and leave it in god's hands. It is a very nice thing about our culture."
Image: The southern coast of Australia from a height of 70,000 km. | Photograph, courtesy: ISRO
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