As earthlings and Indians, we exult at the launch of the Chandrayaan-2 mission to scan the moon’s surface and soil, map its topography, study its mineral and chemical composition and understand its origin and evolution (Nation page, “Chandrayaan-2 all set for 3.84 lakh km voyage,” and FAQ page, both July 14). The unmanned mission, undertaken days ahead of the 50th anniversary of the first successful moon landing, has to be seen as part of the wider scientific efforts to push the boundaries of human knowledge. Space exploration has both tangible and intangible benefits and it sometimes transforms the way we look at ourselves and the universe. Surely, reaching out for the celestial bodies is good for life on earth. The question of how a poverty-stricken country can invest in space programmes is based on misconception. The right approach is that we must have the wherewithal to do both poverty mitigation and space exploration.

G. David Milton,

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

Amid pessimistic news items related to political defections, violence and scams, the report on ISRO’s ambitious moon mission project comes as a ray of hope. Scientists are said to have skipped holidays and worked hard for the success of the mission. All government departments should take inspiration from the premier space organisation and strive to better their work culture.

Kshirasagara Balaji Rao,

Hyderabad