NEW DELHI: With the Indian space agency achieving several milestones in recent months, PM Narendra Modi , during his current visit to the US, lauded Indian Space Research Organisation ( Isro ) for its rapid advancement in space technology.

While addressing the Indian diaspora in Washington DC on Sunday night, Modi said, “India has earned a big name in space technology. Just two days ago, Isro had launched 31 satellites in one go. A few months ago, we had broken the world record by launching 104 satellites in one go.”

The PM also spoke about Isro’s achievements in launching the country’s heaviest rocket GSLV Mk III on June 5, which made India capable of launching a 4-tonne-class geosynchronous satellite. He said, "We recently launched a rocket whose weight was not counted in kilograms but was compared with the weight of many (200) elephants. Our government’s focus on technology-driven governance, technology-driven society and technology-driven development is showing desired results."

During his previous visit to the US in 2014, Modi, while addressing a gathering in New York, had talked about the successful Mars mission. "Everything about Mangalyaan is indigenous. We reached Mars at a smaller budget than a Hollywood movie (Mars mission budget was $74 million while budget of Hollywood movie ‘Gravity’ was $100 million)," he had said.

Just before leaving for the US on Sunday, Modi, in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme, praised Isro for launching Cartosat-2 series satellite. He said the "satellite will help farmers in predicting the change of weather". The PM also praised the space agency’s Mars mission programme that recently completed 1,000 earth days in orbit.

Modi had shown keen interest in space technology from the beginning of his stint as PM. Soon after assuming charge as PM in 2014, he pushed Isro to work on a Saarc satellite . On May 5 this year, soon after the South Asia satellite (Saarc satellite was rechristened after the exit of Pakistan) was successfully launched from Sriharikota, Modi organised a mini-Saarc summit via video-conferencing. He addressed leaders of six Saarc countries and thanked them for participating in the project. He said the Rs 450-crore satellite (Gsat-9) was a free gift to Saarc countries and it "opens up new horizons of engagement and will greatly benefit South Asia and our region’s progress".

The PM’s praise for Isro comes at a time when the space agency is set to cross another milestone with its third launch in a single month. On June 29, Isro will launch Gsat-17, having a liftoff mass of 3,425 kg, from French Guiana. On June 5, GSLV Mark III was launched followed by PSLV C-38 flight with 31 satellites on June 23.

