India has officially designated August 23rd as National Space Day to commemorate the successful landing of the Vikram Lander from the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon’s surface.
This milestone made India the fourth country to achieve a lunar landing and the first to do so in the Moon’s southern polar region. The day is being celebrated nationwide with a focus on inspiring future generations and promoting space exploration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Greetings to everyone on the first National Space Day. We recall with great pride our nation’s achievements in the space sector. It is also a day to laud the contributions of our space scientists. Our Government has taken a series of futuristic decisions relating to this sector and we will do even more in the times to come.”
The Chandrayaan-3 mission, launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, successfully achieved a soft landing of the Vikram Lander on August 23, 2023. This achievement places India alongside the United States, Russia, and China in the elite group of nations that have landed on the Moon.
The Vikram Lander, accompanied by the Pragyaan Rover, touched down at the site named ‘Shiv Shakti,’ where the rover began its exploration of the lunar surface.
The theme for National Space Day 2024, “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga,” highlights the impact of space exploration on society and the benefits of space technology for life on Earth.
Celebrations are taking place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with live streaming on ISRO’s website and YouTube channel, aiming to engage the public and inspire young minds to pursue careers in STEM fields.
National Space Day is a testament to India’s growing prowess in space exploration and its commitment to advancing space science and technology, fostering international collaboration, and inspiring future generations.
