Unless you have been hiding in a crater for more than three years, you know that Mangalyaan catapulted India’s space programme to international stardom. In an astonishing 15 months from the day it was announced (by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a speech on 15 August 2012), the team at ISRO conceptualised, planned and implemented the mission, successfully sending off the auto-rickshaw-sized satellite out of Earth’s orbit and into Mars’, a journey of 660 million km and 300 days. Armed with five payloads, including a methane sensor and tri-colour Mars Colour Camera, the satellite cost a total of US$ 70 million only. (For reference, a similar NASA mission cost US$ 671 million) The amazing success of the mission brought worldwide attention and immense national pride and glory.

    Mangalyaan was special and it feels great to be recognised for one’s expertise and competence. The PM shook hands with these space....