India celebrates its first-ever National Space Day

President Droupadi Murmu has said that the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO has made important contributions not only to the space sector but also to the socio-economic development of the country. She said this while addressing the maiden National Space Day programme in New Delhi on Friday. The President said, space exploration has increased the capabilities of human beings, transformed the imagination into reality and revealed the secrets of the universe. 

भारत के space sector की प्रगति असाधारण है। चाहे वह कम संसाधनों में सफलतापूर्वक पूरा किया गया मंगल मिशन हो, या एक बार में सौ से अधिक satellites का सफल प्रक्षेपण हो, हमने अनेक प्रभावशाली उपलब्धियां हासिल की हैं। pic.twitter.com/axaNnvQq4j

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 23, 2024

Minister of State for Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Narendra Modi government has broken the shackles of the past to liberate the Space Sector. He said, that for nearly 70 years, the Space sector was working behind a veil of self-imposed secrecy which deprived the sector of resources and knowledge. 

Delhi: Union MoS, Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh says, "A year ago, on August 23, 2023, our Chandrayaan-III became the first space mission to land on the south side of the Moon. At that time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that this day would be celebrated every… pic.twitter.com/4SSz0ij4Py

— IANS (@ians_india) August 23, 2024

ISRO chairman S Somanath said that this year National Space Day is being celebrated all across the length and breadth of this country with the participation of departments, ministries, educational institutions, science organisations, NGOs, general public. He said, there is a lot of enthusiasm among people on National Space Day. 

Watch: ISRO Chairman Dr S. Somnath says, "National Space Day, celebrated on August 23, marks Chandrayaan-3's historic lunar landing, a never-before event in India's space history. The Prime Minister designated August 23 as National Space Day and named the landing site 'Shiv… pic.twitter.com/tlCdLEgArs

— IANS (@ians_india) August 23, 2024

On the occasion, President Murmu presented prizes to the winners of ISRO’s Robotics Challenge and Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon.

#WATCH | Delhi | President Droupadi Murmu gives prizes to the winners of ISRO's Robotics challenge and Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon, on inaugural National Space Day pic.twitter.com/vUObhFSOg3

— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2024

This significant event marks the country's rising stature in the global space community.August 23 holds historical significance as it aligns with the successful landing of India's Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon last year. ISRO successfully landed the Vikram Lander on the lunar surface, making India the fourth country to achieve this feat and the first to land near the Moon's southern polar region.Following this achievement, August 23 was declared as "National Space Day."
The theme for National Space Day 2024 is "Touching Lives while Touching the Moon." This theme pays tribute to India's impressive history of space exploration and its transition from humble beginnings to a global leader in space technology.