India is celebrating its inaugural National Space Day today, August 23, to mark the successful landing of the Vikram Lander from the Chandrayaan-3 mission. In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 23 as National Space Day to commemorate the mission’s success, naming the landing site ‘Shiva Shakti Point’ and renaming the Chandrayaan-2 landing site as ‘Tiranga Point.’
Know about the Chandrayaan-3 mission
With this achievement, India became the fourth nation to land a rover on the moon and the first to do so near the southern polar region. The Vikram Lander, accompanied by the Pragyaan Rover, touched down on the lunar surface, marking a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey.
Chandrayaan-3 has positioned India as a leader in the expanding global space market, with the country aiming to secure a 10 percent share of the global space economy over the next decade, increasing its stake from US$9 billion to US$45 billion.
On the occasion of National Space Day 2024, PM Modi praised the contributions of space scientists, stating that the government has made several forward-looking decisions in the space sector, with more progress expected in the future. “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,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
ISRO Chairman S Somanath, observing National Space Day 2024, shared that ISRO is currently working on a space policy to define the roles and responsibilities of the Department of Space, ISRO, and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), paving the way for increased private sector involvement in space activities. He also mentioned the announcement of a foreign direct investment policy allowing private and foreign investments in the space sector under certain regulations. Additionally, the Department of Science and Technology is working on a geospatial policy initiative to make geospatial and satellite data freely available up to five-meter resolution, promoting further innovation.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, on the eve of National Space Day 2024, highlighted India’s future in the space sector, mentioning that “Chandrayaan 3 was a milestone, Chandrayaan 4 and 5 will follow.” He also discussed the forthcoming Gaganyaan Mission, which will launch the first Indian into space in 2025, and highlighted that the space sector has secured a Rs 1,000 crore investment through partnerships with private companies. Additionally, the country aims to build the Bhartiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and achieve an Indian moon landing by 2045.
Significance and theme of National Space Day 2024
National Space Day holds significant importance as it underscores India’s commitment to advancing space science and technology, fostering international collaboration, and inspiring innovation for future space missions. The theme for India’s first National Space Day is ‘Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga.’
The inaugural National Space Mission 2024 will be live-streamed on multiple platforms, with ISRO broadcasting the event, including discussions, panel talks with space scientists, and educational sessions designed to inspire students and space enthusiasts.