Ban Ki-moon lauds launch of Indian lunar mission
New York (IANS):

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated India's government and it's people for the successful launch of the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, which is expected to orbit the moon and carry out research during a two-year mission.

"This achievement is yet another manifestation of the importance that India attaches to the quest for knowledge and scientific advancement," Ban's spokesperson said in a statement Thursday following the launch of the unmanned spacecraft by India.

"The secretary-general is confident that this mission and its scientific research will make a valuable contribution to India's continued development and to human progress."