US Congressman Rich McCormick lauded India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, expressing amazement that the country managed to land a spaceship on the dark side of the Moon with a budget of $80 million.
Speaking
at the event at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the India-US partnership, McCormick said, “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.”
US Congressman Rich McCormick praises India’s space capability and said
” They put a spaceship on the dark side of moon for under $80 million dollars—not billion—million dollars”.
“We can’t even build a building to talk about putting a space ship on the Dark Side of Moon for… pic.twitter.com/CsaP70XmMR
— THE UNKNOWN MAN (@Theunk5555) January 16, 2026
Chandrayaan-3 was an ambitious mission launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at a cost of Rs 615 crore ($75 million), designed specifically to demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the Moon. Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover became the first to land near the lunar South Pole.
The mission marked a historic achievement for India in the space sector as it became the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole. It also became the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to successfully soft-land on the Moon.
Congressman Praises PM Modi: ‘Extremely Nationalistic’
The US Congressman also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him “extremely nationalistic in a good way” who really wants what is best for the country. He also defended India’s purchase of Russian oil.
“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,” he said.
“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,” says US Congressman Rich McCormick at CSIS
pic.twitter.com/DVgKr0GZMT— Navroop Singh (@TheNavroopSingh) January 16, 2026
McCormick’s remarks came as India-US relations were strained over US President Donald Trump’s 25% extra tariffs on Indian products for purchasing Russian oil, which Washington says fuels Moscow’s war in Ukraine. India has denied these allegations and pointed towards the US and EU’s own imports from Russia.
The Congressman also drew comparisons between India and Pakistan. “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.
