National Space Day 2025 – August 23

The National Space Day (NSpD) is observed across India on 23 August to honor the historic success of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO’s)Chandrayaan-3 Mission and the successful deployment of the ‘Pragyan Rover’.

• On 23rd August 2023, Chandrayaan-3 made a safe landing on the Moon’s South Pole, deployed the Pragyan Rover, and made India the 4th country to land on the Moon and the 1st to land near its South Pole.
• 23rd August 2025 marks the celebration of the 2nd NSpD.

Note: The landing site of the Vikram Lander on the lunar surface was named ‘Shiv Shakti Point’ (Station Shiv Shakti).

Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

National Space Meet 2.0: Theme: “Leveraging Space Technology and Applications for Viksit Bharat 2047”

Indian Space Station Model: ISRO unveiled 1st module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-01).

Theme:

2025 Theme: “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities”.

Focus: It reflects India’s journey from the ancient wisdom of its astronomers to modern achievements in human spaceflight, celebrating exploration, innovation, and imagination.

NSpD 2025 aims to: Encourage students and youth to see science not just as a career but as a calling rooted in culture.

• Recognize the contributions of Indian thinkers, ancient and modern, who have advanced our understanding of the universe.
• Inspire national pride in India’s leadership in space exploration and technology.

Background:

Declaration : In August 2023, the Government of India(GoI) announced that 23rd August would be observed every year as National Space Day (NSpD) to commemorate the success of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission.

• The declaration was made by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi during his meeting with the ISRO at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC) Mission Control Facility (MCF) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

First Observance: NSpD was celebrated for the first time in 2024.
 2025 Events:

2025 celebrations: The NSpD 2025 celebration was held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi(Delhi) and featured exhibitions, seminars, competitions, and educational outreach initiatives such as ‘Space on Wheels’ and ‘ISRO Space Tutor’.

National Space Meet 2.0: As part of the celebrations,, ISRO organized the two-day National Space Meet 2.0 on the theme “Leveraging Space Technology and Applications for Viksit Bharat 2047” at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from August 22-23, 2025.

• The event was graced by P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, as the Chief Guest. The event brought together Ministries, private stakeholders, academia, startups, and experts to shape the roadmap for India’s space applications for the next decade.
• The meet featured 10 breakout sessions involving hundreds of experts who, over the past four months, collaborated with Ministries, Departments, State Governments, and ISRO to identify numerous use cases for immediate and future implementation.
• The roadmap outlines ambitious yet achievable goals, including tripling the number of operational satellites within three years, expanding space applications across all sectors, and positioning India among the world’s leading space powers by 2040.

Indian Space Station Model Unveiled: On this occasion, ISRO showcased the model of the first module Bharatiya Antariksh Station(BAS-01) of the upcoming Indian Space Station The model has been installed in an exhibition area measuring 3.8 meters(m) by 8 m at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

• The module weighs around 10 tonnes and will orbit the Earth at an altitude of 450 kilometres(km). It is equipped with several indigenous technologies, including the Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS), Bharat Docking System, Automated Hatch System, and Berthing Mechanism.
• India aims to launch the BAS-01 module by 2028 and expand the Indian Space Station with five modules by 2035.

Nationwide Celebrations: To celebrate NSpD 2025, the Department of Space (DoS) is organizing month-long events across India in August to inspire and engage youth in space science and its applications.

ISRO’s Key Past Achievements:

• Aryabhata (1975): India’s first satellite, marking the nation’s entry into space exploration.
• Satellite Launch Vehicle-3(SLV-3) (1980): First successful launch of a satellite using an Indian-made rocket.
• Chandrayaan-1 (2008): India’s first Moon mission, which discovered water molecules on the lunar surface.
• Mangalyaan (2014): Also known as the Mars Orbiter Mission(MoM), it made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit on its maiden attempt.
• Chandrayaan-3 (2023): Achieved the first successful landing near the Moon’s south pole.

About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman- V. Narayanan
Headquarters- Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established – 1969.