Chennai, Sep 24 - India's first lunar mission is perhaps the only space project that has raised many eyebrows. But the sensational finding of water on moon has vindicated Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) officials' faith in the Rs.386-crore mission.

'Those who oppose the project have no concept of the lunar mission. Ours is entirely different and we are not reinventing the wheel,' K. Kasturirangan, former ISRO chairman, said.

ISRO scientists were convinced of the mission's utility despite opposition which argued that 'the money could be spent on welfare of the poor'.

The ISRO scientists pointed out that the technological and scientific gains of the moon mission would benefit the domestic civil industry immensely.