Ex-Space Station Commander Applauds India’s Technological Prowess Ahead of Solar Mission Launch

New Delhi, Sep 02, 2023: Former International Space Station commander, Chris Hadfield, has commended India’s “technological prowess” as the country prepares for the launch of its first solar mission, Aditya-L1. Scheduled to launch from Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota, Aditya-L1 is India’s inaugural solar space observatory, aiming to provide vital insights into solar phenomena.

Hadfield emphasized the global significance of this mission, stating, “It’s good for everybody for protecting us as people. But also, of course, our electrical grid, our internet grid, and all of the thousands of satellites that we count on that are up in orbit.”

Aditya-L1 will orbit the sun, residing 1.5 million kilometers away at Lagrangian Point 1 (L1), allowing for comprehensive solar study and data collection. Hadfield highlighted the mission’s critical role in understanding space weather, which impacts Earth’s technology-dependent systems.

Hadfield also praised India’s cost-effective approach to space endeavors, saying, “The inexpensive and successful way that India landed on the Moon is proof positive for all of those Indian space companies that they can do something as well and for a lot less money than the rest of the world.”

India’s burgeoning space industry, coupled with government support and a commitment to technological advancement, places the country in a strong position for space-related business ventures.

In light of India’s achievements in space, Chris Hadfield, known for his books and space expertise, anticipates continued growth and innovation in the country’s space sector.