PM Celebrates 1st National Space Day, Praises India's Space Scientists

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended greetings to the nation on the first National Space Day, aimed at celebrating the accomplishments of Chandrayaan 3 that scripted history in 2023 by becoming the very first Moon lander on the south pole. "Greetings to everyone on the first National Space Day," PM Modi said in a post on X.com. The Prime Minister lauded the hard work and efforts put in by the space scientists across the country.

"We remember with immense pride the Space Missions of our country. It is also an occasion to appreciate the hard work of our space scientists dedicatingly in mission mode," he stated. He added several steps had been taken by the government in aiming to boost the space sector. "Our Government has taken a series of futuristic decisions relating to this sector and we will do even more in times to come," he said.

The spacecraft of Chandrayaan-3 comprised a propulsion module featuring a mass of 2,148 kg and a lander called Vikram weighing 1,723.89 kg, and it carries a rover called Pragyan, weighing 26 kg. It landed near the South Pole of the Moon on August 23 after traveling about 3.84 lakh km for over 40 days. After the success of Chandrayaan-3, India became the fourth nation ever—after the erstwhile USSR (now Russia), the US, and China—to do a soft landing on the Moon.

The entire nation is celebrating the first-ever National Space Day, involving departments, ministries, educational institutions, science organizations, and NGOs, along with the people. The theme this time is "Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga." ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somnath said the day, besides commemorating the success of Chandrayaan-3, will outline future space initiatives during the Amritkal era.

Meanwhile, India is expected to send an Indian to space by the second half of 2025 and also land the first Indian on the Moon by 2040—both in the same time frame. Gaganyaan—India's first human space mission that was put off due to Covid—is also expected to take flight next year. India is also aiming to send a "female robot, Vayumitra, to space in 2025" as part of its manned mission.