‘$80 million Moon landing’: US Congressman praises Chandrayaan-3 and PM Modi, contrasts India with Pakistan

The fully-integrated Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft and LVM-3 at the launchpad in Sriharikokta. (ISRO/Twitter)

US Congressman Rich McCormick praised India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission for its low cost and precision, lauded PM Modi’s nationalistic policies, and highlighted India’s growing economic role compared to Pakistan amid ongoing India-US policy differences.

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US Congressman Rich McCormick has heaped praise on India’s lunar programme, expressing astonishment at the cost and precision of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Speaking at an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies on the India-US partnership, McCormick highlighted how India achieved a complex Moon landing on a fraction of what similar programmes often cost.

“India put a spaceship on the dark side of the moon for under $80 million. Not $80 billion. $80 million. America can’t even make a building at that price,” he said, drawing applause from the audience.

Chandrayaan-3 was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation with a budget of about Rs 615 crore, roughly $75 million. The mission was designed to demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the Moon. Its Vikram lander and Pragyan rover made history by touching down near the lunar south pole, a region of major scientific interest. With this achievement, India became the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole and the fourth overall, after the United States, Russia and China, to successfully soft-land on the lunar surface.

Praise for PM Modi and India’s policy choices

McCormick also spoke warmly about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as a leader focused on national interest.

“PM Modi is extremely nationalistic in a good way. He’s looking out for his country. When India buys cheap Russian oil, America hates that. But he is doing it in the best interest of his country,” the Congressman said.

His remarks come at a time when India-US ties have faced strain following US President Donald Trump announcing an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. India has rejected the criticism, pointing out that the US and European Union also continue to import energy from Russia.

India versus Pakistan comparison

McCormick also contrasted India’s economic engagement with that of Pakistan, underscoring India’s growing role as an investor.

“Pakistan is a country with 300 million people. But you don’t see it bringing investments into America. India not only take investment, it also brings investments into the United States,” he said.

Taken together, McCormick’s comments highlighted India’s rising stature, from cost-effective space exploration to its expanding economic footprint, even as policy differences test the broader India-US relationship.