Modi arrives in Bengaluru to witness moon landing

Modi arrives in Bengaluru to witness moon landing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (File Photo: IANS)

Chennai: India’s first moon lander Vikram successfully separated from its mother spacecraft Chandrayaan-2 on Monday at 1.15 a.m., said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). According to ISRO, the Vikram Lander is currently located in an orbit of 119 km x 127 km. The Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter continues to orbit the Moon in its existing orbit. (Photo: IANS)

Bengaluru, Sep 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew here on Friday night to witness the historic landing of the Chandrayaan-2 mission's lunar lander Vikram with rover Pragyan in it on the moon early on Saturday, an official said.

"Modi landed at the Yelahanka base of the IAF on the city's northern outskirts at 9.40 p.m. for an overnight stay at a star hotel, which is near to the space agency's network centre to witness Vikram's landing on the moon between 1.30-2.30 a.m.," an official told IANS here.

Governor Vajubhai Vala, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, city Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun, Union Ministers D.V. Sadananda Gowda and Pralhad Joshi, ruling BJP's state unit President Nalin Kumar Kateel and top officials were present at the air base to welcome Modi, visiting the city for the first time after the recent Lok Sabha elections.

"Modi will drive to the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (Istrac) in the Peenya industrial area of the city's northwest suburb by 1.00 a.m. and return to the hotel after watching the landing by 3.00 a.m. for rest," added the VIP protocol official.

Modi will also interact with about 70 students from across the country at the network centre after Vikram's landing and address them.

The Prime Minister will leave the city from the air base around 9 a.m on Saturday.

--IANS

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