We’ve become a cosmic state, says president after first ever space mission

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius have congratulated scientists after the launch of the countries first space mission on Jan. 9.

Two Lithuanian made satelittes were launched in to space yesterday by NASA.

'This is a historic moment for Lithuania - the first Lithuanian satellites Lituanica SAT-1 and LitSar-1 are launched. I would like to congratulate the young scientists and all the citizens. We became a cosmic state. This is an important step in the creation of the new technologies and in the cosmic investigations," said Grybauskaite.

Grybauskaite [raised the scientists who created and wished them satellites success and new discoveries.

"This evening we had an opportunity to see an extraordinary event with excitement - for the first time in the history of the country, Lithuania's satellites LitSat-1 and LituanicaSat-1 were launched. This is a great victory of the young scientists of Lithuania," said Butkevicius.

The Antares rocket, which carried the Lituanica SAT-1 and LitSat-1 satellites launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, at 20:07 Thursday.