In a budget less than that of 'Interstellar': IMF chief congratulates PM Modi on Chandrayaan-3 success

Several world leers at G20 Summit here congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on success of Chandrayaan-3, with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva hailing India for achieving feat "in a budget less than that of movie Interstellar", according to sources.

During various sessions and meetings of G20, many world leers showered praise on India for its lunar mission and also lauded successful launch of itya L1, India's first space-based mission to study Sun.

While British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak congratulated India and entire world for Chandrayaan-3, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed country for feat and recalled that he h watched a telecast of lunar landing while taking a break during BRICS meeting, sources said.

"I congratulate you on Moon landing. But as an economist let me congratulate you for doing it in a budget less than that of movie, 'Interstellar'. Bravo!" International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Georgieva was quoted by a source as saying at a meeting during G20.

Chandrayaan-3 touched down on lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on August 23 after a flawless 41-day voyage, in a giant leap for India's space programme.

Rs 600-crore Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14 on board Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket.

movie "Interstellar", a 2014 epic science fiction film co-written and directed by Christopher Nolan, was me at a reported cost of about Rs 1,400 crore.

During G20 Summit, Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong said, "Congratulations on Moon mission and also on itya L1 mission." Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth also congratulated India on success of Chandrayaan and itya L1 missions, saying it displays technological prowess of India and is an inspiration for "a voyage to future".

At a bilateral meeting after summit, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva congratulated PM Modi and India for historic achievement of Chandrayaan-3's landing in south polar region of Moon as well as successful launch of India's first solar mission, itya-L1, both important feats which mark remarkable milestones in space exploration.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, her Nerlands counterpart Mark Rutte and President of Union of Comoros and African Union Chairperson Azali Assoumani also hailed India for its Chandrayaan-3 success during G20 sessions.

In G20 New Delhi Leers' Declaration opted on Saturday, grouping said, "We also congratulate India on successful landing on Moon on 23 August 2023."