India's Chandrayaan 2 moon moment was all about so-near-yet-so-far, but speakers at a 'National Conference on India in Space and Nuclear Energy' at the Nehru Science Centre at Mahalaxmi on Monday were categorical about it not being a failure adding, "this is a historic year for India in Science."

The venue of the meet was well-lit, but the real incandescence came from the bright minds in the audience. The who's who of Science packed the national conference, which was held as a tribute to mark the birth centenary of the father of India's space programme, Dr Vikram Sarabhai.