When the lander module of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, made a successful landing on the moon’s surface at 6.03 p.m. on August 23, celebrations broke out in Project Director P. Veeramuthuvel’s native place in Villupuram.
Until then, Mr. Veeramuthuvel’s father, Palanivel, his friends, residents of VOC Street and mediapersons had been anxiously counting down to the landmark moment.
Mr. Palanivel was overwhelmed with calls from well-wishers congratulating him on his son’s role in the country’s successful moon mission. Glued to the television at his residence, the retired railway employee said he was tense and apprehensive in the run-up to the event. “Only on hearing the wider applause among the scientists and others at the Mission Operations Complex (MOC) at ISRO’s Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Bengaluru, did I realise that the mission was a success. I have no words to express my joy,” he said.
