Islamabad (IANS): Eminent Pakistani scientist and former minister for science and technology Atta-ur-Rehman has said that India’s moon mission was a wake-up call for Pakistan, which requires to follow suit.

Speaking to a Pakistan TV channel here, Rehman said, “The Indian moon mission cannot be termed a failure, as such tests by even big and technologically advanced countries also fail. He said failures and successes are part of such missions but those who stick to them succeed at last.”

“Half of such missions undertaken by even the most advanced and developed countries have failed and only half succeeded,” Rehman added.

Rehman said the impression that such missions involve a lot of money is not the right approach, as such endeavours also have their impact on defence and industries.

“India is doing the right job and we should follow it to reach the Moon and the Mars,” said Rahman.

Rehman went on to say that the attempt to reach the Moon should not be driven by ego, to be on an equal footing with India, but pursuing such missions will improve many technologies which will strengthen Pakistan’s defence and industries.

MEANWHILE, reports say the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) retrieved images and located the lander Vikram on the moon on September 8 and was analysing them to find out about the lander’s condition.

At 1.45 a.m. on September 7, 12 minutes into its descent onto the lunar surface, the lander lost contact with earth.

According to the reports, the main Chandrayaan 2 spacecraft continues to orbit the moon from pole to pole from a 100-km distance. The lander was spotted some distance away — possibly about half a kilometre — from its intended touchdown point.

ON Tuesday, the Indian space agency reiterated that its moon lander Vikram has been located by the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter.

“#VikramLander has been located by the orbiter of #Chandrayaan2, but no communication with it yet,” the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) tweeted.

“All possible efforts are being made to establish communication with lander,” ISRO said.

The ISRO did not, however, say in what condition the lander is on the lunar surface.

The space agency continues to remain silent as to the cause for the moon lander tumbling and deviating from its original flight path on September 7 early morning.