India Celebrates 1st-ever National Space Day 2024: Origin, Theme, Significance

National Space Day 2024: India is celebrating its first National Space Day today, August 23. The day is being celebrated to commemorate the successful soft-landing of Vikram Lander of Chandrayaan-3 mission, on the lunar surface, on August 23, 2023. This established India as the fourth nation globally to land a rover on the moon and also made it the first to reach the moon's southern polar region, placing the country at the forefront of space exploration.

National Space Day: A Day of Pride and Progress

The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on August 23, 2023, was a monumental moment in India’s space history, proving the nation’s growing capabilities in space technology. Congratulating the scientists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declaredthis day as National Space Day, underscoring the importance of this achievement and reflecting the Indian government's commitment to fostering further advancements in space science and technology.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday took to social media to express his pride in the nation's achievements. "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 tweeted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also tweeted, "On #NationalSpaceDay, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all citizens and congratulate the brilliant minds who proved Bharat's dominance in space through the successful touchdown of Chandrayaan on the Moon's South Pole. Bharat scripted indelible history by embossing its civilizational signature, Shiv Shakti, on the surface of the Moon. This grand achievement is a testament to Modi Ji's vision of opening infinite opportunities in the space sector for our youth, who dare to turn the seemingly impossible into an everyday reality."

All You Need To Know About Chandrayaan-3 Mission

Chandrayaan-3 was a mission to follow up the previous Chandrayaan2 project. It launched on 14th July 2023 at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh from Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The robotic Vikram Lander, carrying the Pragyaan Rover, landed near the southern pole of the moon which no other nations had ever reached.

The successful completion of the mission is a testament to years of hard work and innovation by ISRO, showcasing India's capability regarding complex space missions at low cost. The touchdown of Vikram Lander showcased the technological capabilities of India.

National Space Day 2024 Theme

The theme for National Space Day 2024 is “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga,” to highlight the broader impact of space exploration on society. This theme highlights how advancements in space technology can improve the quality of life on Earth, from satellite communication to disaster management and beyond.

Celebrations are planned at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. These events will be live streamed straight from the ISRO website and YouTube, to ensure that people all across India can partake in this occasion. The day-long activities are designed to ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among young Indians; motivating them to pursue exciting careers in these fields.