PM Modi Celebrates First National Space Day, Honors India's Space Scientists

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his greetings to the nation on the inaugural National Space Day, marking a historic milestone for India’s space achievements, particularly Chandrayaan-3's successful landing on the Moon's South Pole in 2023.

“Greetings to everyone on the first National Space Day,” PM Modi wrote in a post on X.com. The Prime Minister praised the dedication and contributions of India’s space scientists, emphasizing the significance of their achievements. “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,” he stated.

PM Modi highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to advance India's space program, noting, “Our Government has taken a series of futuristic decisions relating to this sector, and we will do even more in the times to come.”

Chandrayaan-3, which made history by landing near the Moon's South Pole on August 23, 2023, was a monumental achievement for India. The mission comprised a propulsion module (weighing 2,148 kg), a lander named Vikram (1,723.89 kg), and a rover named Pragyan (26 kg). After a journey of over 40 days, covering approximately 384,000 km, India became the fourth nation—following the erstwhile USSR (now Russia), the US, and China—to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.

National Space Day is being celebrated across the country, with participation from various departments, ministries, educational institutions, science organizations, NGOs, and the public. The theme for this year's celebration is: “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga.”

On this occasion, ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somnath noted that the day not only commemorates the success of Chandrayaan-3 but also highlights the future of India’s space endeavors during the Amritkal era. He emphasized that this day would serve as a springboard for outlining upcoming space initiatives.

India's future in space exploration looks promising, with plans to send an Indian astronaut into space by the second half of 2025 and to land the first Indian on the Moon by 2040. The Gaganyaan mission, India's first human spaceflight, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to launch next year. Additionally, India aims to send robotic missions, including a female robot named Vayumitra, into space in 2025.