India Celebrates Its First National Space Day: “Touching Lives While Touching the Moon”
New Delhi: India is commemorating its inaugural National Space Day on Friday, themed “Touching Lives While Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga.” This celebration marks the anniversary of a historic achievement on August 23, 2023, when the Chandrayaan-3 lander successfully completed a soft landing on the moon. This accomplishment made India the fourth nation to achieve lunar landing and the first to touch down on the moon’s South Pole.
In honor of this milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has designated August 23 as National Space Day. The occasion is being widely acknowledged by prominent figures and officials across the country.
Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Nitin Gadkari, and Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya took to social media to express their enthusiasm and appreciation for India’s space achievements under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.
Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted the journey of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), noting the significant progress from transporting rocket components on bullock carts to the monumental lunar landing. “Today, we celebrate ISRO’s incredible journey on National Space Day. With Indian Oil’s Cryogenics playing a key role, our space saga continues under PM @narendramodi ji’s visionary leadership as we prepare for Gaganyaan in 2024,” Puri posted on X.
Nitin Gadkari emphasized India’s advances in space exploration, celebrating the successes of Chandrayaan-3 and the upcoming Aditya-L1 solar mission. “On this #NationalSpaceDay, let’s celebrate India’s cosmic strides. We salute the brilliance of our scientists and the @isro crew who make India’s cosmic dreams a reality. With upcoming missions like #Gaganyaan, India is set to reach even greater heights,” Gadkari wrote.
Mansukh Mandaviya reflected on the significance of the day, acknowledging the historical achievement and ongoing commitment to space exploration. “As the nation comes together to celebrate #NationalSpaceDay, we fondly remember the historic achievement of our scientists. It marks a watershed moment in our quest for space exploration,” Mandaviya said.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways also commemorated the day, noting the significance of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. “Today, India celebrates its 1st National Space Day, marking the successful soft landing of Vikram Lander on the lunar surface. India became the 4th country to land a rover on the moon and the 1st to land near the southern polar region,” the Ministry posted on X.
As India celebrates this landmark day, the focus remains on the future of space exploration, with upcoming missions like Gaganyaan poised to further the country’s achievements in the cosmos.
