Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V. Narayanan has expressed strong confidence in the success of Artemis II, calling it a “grand success” and a significant milestone in global space exploration. Speaking in Thiruvananthapuram, Narayanan praised the mission following its recent launch from Florida, highlighting its importance in advancing human spaceflight. 

Artemis II marks the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis programme and is designed to carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby, making it the first human journey beyond low-Earth orbit since the Apollo era. The mission includes astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. 

Narayanan noted that while the mission is not intended to land on the Moon, it is a crucial step toward future lunar landings under subsequent Artemis missions. He emphasized that such missions demonstrate the renewed global push toward deep space exploration and human presence beyond Earth. 

The ISRO chief also remarked that he had closely followed the launch and acknowledged its technological sophistication. His comments reflect India’s growing engagement with global space initiatives, even as ISRO continues preparations for its own human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.