The United Nations (UN) designated International Moon Day (IMD) is annually observed across the globe on July 20 to commemorate the anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon with the Apollo 11 mission.
- Aim: To raise public awareness about sustainable Moon exploration and utilisation.
- 20th July 2024 marks the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.
Theme 2024:
The 2024 theme for International Moon Day is ‘Illuminating the Shadows’, which encourages people to explore the hidden wonders of the moon.
Background:
i.During the 65th session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), the Moon Village Association (MVA) filed the application with the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) requesting the designation of July 20 as International Moon Day.
ii.On 9 December 2021, The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/76/76 International cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and proclaimed 20th July of every year as International Moon Day.
iii.The first IMD was observed on 20th July 2022.
Note : In 1958, the UNGA adopted its first resolution related to outer space, resolution 1348 (XIII) entitled “Question of the Peaceful Use of Outer Space”.
2024 Events:
To commemorate International Moon Day the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) is issuing six postage stamps and three souvenir sheets featuring various pictures from lunar missions.
Features of the stamps:
- Danuri (73 Cent): Images related to Danuri mission, South Korea’s first lunar exploration mission. Officially known as the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), Danuri was launched Aug. 5, 2022, by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).
- Surveyor 1 (USD 1.65):Images related to Surveyor 1, the first successful lunar lander in NASA’s Surveyor program, which launched May 30, 1966, and landed on the moon June 2, 1966.
- Chandrayaan-3( Swiss franc 1,20): Images related to Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar exploration mission under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), appear on the 1.20fr stamps.
- SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) ( Swiss franc 1,90): Images related to the Japanese lunar exploration project Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
- SMART-1 (Euro 0,95): Images related to the European Space Agency (ESA) mission Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology-1 (SMART-1)
- Chang’ E5 (Euro 1,20): Images related to the Chang’e 5 mission launched by China on Nov. 23, 2020. Chang’e 5 showcased China’s advanced space capabilities and marked a significant achievement in lunar exploration.
Features of souvenir sheets:
The stamps on the souvenir sheets represent milestones in lunar missions.
- Apollo 11 (USD 1.55 ) : An image from the historic 1969 Apollo 11 mission.
- Luna 2 (Swiss franc 2,50) : An image of the Luna 2 spacecraft.
- Chang’ E 4 (Euro 1,90): An image from the Chang’e 4 robotic spacecraft mission.
Apollo 11 mission:
i.Apollo 11 mission was an American spaceflight by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) which achieved the first manned landing on the moon.
ii.It was launched on July 16 1969 carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin and Michael Collins.
iii.On July 20 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the lunar surface in the Lunar Module (LM) ‘Eagle’.
iv.Armstrong became the first person to touch the moon’s surface followed by Aldrin, while Collins remained in the Columbia module in lunar orbit.
v.The successful return of Apollo 11 to Earth on 24th July 1969, marked a major milestone in space exploration.
About the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA):
UNOOSA works to promote worldwide cooperation in the exploration of space, and in the utilisation of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development. It serves as the secretariat for the UN COPUOS.
Director – Aarti Holla-Maini
Headquarters – Vienna, Austria
Established – 13 December 1958
