As India marks its inaugural National Space Day today, Union Minister of State for the Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, celebrated the nation's significant milestone at Bharat Mandapam. The event highlights India's historic achievement of landing on the Moon's South Pole.
Dr. Jitendra Singh noted, "On August 23, 2023, our Chandrayaan-III mission became the first to touch down on the Moon's south side. This remarkable achievement within just 55 years of our space journey shows the world our growing capabilities. Prime Minister Modi has designated this day annually as National Space Day."
He emphasized that National Space Day serves as a moment for reflection and future planning. "It is a day to reflect on our swift progress and chart our future course. This success showcases the incredible talent and dedication of our scientists. Much credit goes to PM Modi, who encouraged public-private partnerships. Within just 3 to 4 years, we now have 300 space start-ups, with over 1,000 crores invested between April and December 2023."
Looking ahead, Dr. Singh highlighted the significance of the coming year for the Gaganyaan project, which aims to advance India's space capabilities further. "By 2035, India plans to have its own space station, and by 2040, we aim to achieve another lunar landing. Our space technology has already made impacts in health, agriculture, climate management, disaster response, smart city development, infrastructure, and railway security."
The celebration also featured President Droupadi Murmu, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, and ISRO Chairman S. Somanath at an exhibition showcasing India's space technology achievements. President Murmu awarded prizes to winners of ISRO's Robotics Challenge and the Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath reflected on the Chandrayaan-3 mission's success, stating, "We achieved a historic milestone last year with Chandrayaan-3. The impact of this success was significant, and when the Prime Minister visited our control center, he declared August 23 as National Space Day and named the landing site Shiva Shakti Point."
India's first National Space Day is celebrated under the theme "Touching Lives While Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga," commemorating the nation's historic soft landing on the Moon's South Pole. This achievement marks India as the fourth country to accomplish a lunar landing and the first to explore the Moon's southern region.
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