India is proudly celebrating its first National Space Day in honor of the successful landing of the Vikram Lander on the lunar surface during the Chandrayaan-3 mission. With this achievement, India has become the fourth country to successfully land on the moon, making history by landing near the southern polar region. The mission's objective was to demonstrate a safe landing, operate a rover on the moon, and conduct in-situ scientific experiments. India's space saga continues to touch lives while reaching for the moon.
On the occasion of National Space Day, President Murmu visited an exhibition showcasing India's space technologies and achievements. She expressed her pride in the country's successful Chandrayaan mission and applauded the growth of the Indian space sector. The event also highlighted the importance of space exploration in various aspects of human life and the involvement of private players in the space sector. The date of this inaugural National Space Day marks the anniversary of Chandrayaan's historic soft landing on the lunar South Pole, making India the 4th country to achieve this feat.
Senior scientists at ISRO recall their interactions with Prime Minister Modi during the Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 missions. They talk about his keen interest in space science since his days as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and how his visit to the Space Applications Centre inspired them. One scientist also shares her experience of being personally congratulated by the PM during the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3. "August 23 Declared National Space Day, Chandrayaan 2 landing site named 'Tiranga Point'" To celebrate the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on August 23, 2023, PM Narendra Modi declared the day as National Space Day and named the landing site as 'Shiva Shakti Point.' He also christened the Chandrayaan-2 landing site as 'Tiranga Point' in honor of India's tricolor flag. This achievement made India the fourth country to successfully land on the moon and the first to land near the southern polar region.