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ISRO chief: Science and faith are two different things

News On Time Desk 28 August 2023

Chennai: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman S. Somnath has said that science and faith are two different things and there is no need to confuse the two. He answered questions from reporters after offering prayers at Sri Pournamikavu Temple. The ISRO chief reached Thiruvananthapuram on August 23 after the successful launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission from the lunar surface.

Somnath said there is no dispute in naming the moon landing site as "Shiv Shakti" and the state has the right to name the site. The renowned scientist said, many other countries have inscribed their names on the Moon and it has always been the prerogative of their respective countries.

The ISRO chairman said that India was the first country to land on the Moon's South Pole, adding that the lunar surface of the South Pole is very complex due to mountains and valleys and even a slight miscalculation can cause the lander mission to fail. possible

He said ISRO has prioritized the Moon's south pole for missions, as the surface here is rich in minerals, which will be accelerated by the scientists after the rover gets proper feedback from the lunar surface. He said the Russian mission was to be completed in 2021 and was postponed due to the war in that country.

He also said that Surya Abhiyan is already ready and the launch date will be announced soon. The senior scientist said that several tests are being conducted on the mission and if all goes well, the date will be announced soon otherwise it will be postponed.

Responding to a question, Somnath said the images that the rover was taking from the lunar surface would take time to reach the ISRO stations. He said that ISRO is seeking the support of ground stations of other countries like USA, UK and Australia in this.

He also said that since there is no atmosphere on the Moon's surface, all shadows are dark and this is making it difficult to get clear pictures.

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