On 26th August 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi declared that 23rd August of every year will be observed as “National Space Day” in India to commemorate the soft landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the Moon.
- The announcement was made while addressing the team of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Scientists at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking & Command Network Mission Control Complex (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
National Space Day:
The day will celebrate the spirit of Science, Technology, and Innovation, and inspire younger generations to get involved in the field of science, technology, and space.
Key Highlights:
i.The PM praised the ISRO scientists for taking the ‘Make in India’ initiative to the moon.
ii.The PM also gave credit to the women scientists of ISRO for the success of India’s mission to the moon.
iii.The success of the mission has generated significant interest and potential for increased investments in private space launches and satellite-based businesses.
Achievements:
The successful 3rd lunar mission has made India the 1st nation to reach near the Moon’s South Pole and the 4th to land a spacecraft on the lunar surface.
- The other 3 nations were the United States of America (USA), Russia (formerly the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), and China.
Note: The PM virtually witnessed the moment of the Vikram lander’s lunar landing from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was participating in the 15th Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) Summit from August 22-24 2023.
PM Modi Names Chandrayaan-3 Landing Site as ‘Shiv Shakti’ & Chandrayaan-2 Crash Site as ‘Tiranga’
PM Narendra Modi also announced that the spot, where, the moon lander of Chandrayaan-3, landed on the lunar surface will be known as ‘Shivshakti’ Point. He also announced that the point on the Moon where Chandrayaan-2 crash landed in 2019 will be called as ‘Tiranga Point‘.
Note: The name “ShivShakti” is a reference to the Hindu deity Shiva, which is associated with power and strength. The name “Tiranga” refers to the Indian flag, which is a symbol of national pride.
Key Points:
i.The PM suggested that this ‘Shivkshakti’ point will motivate future generations to utilise science to improve the well-being of humanity.
ii.The ‘Shakti’ in the name ‘Shiv Shakti’ comes from the hard work, inspiration, and empowerment of the women scientists in the mission.
iii.The name of the crash landing site of Chandrayaan-2, which left its footprint on the lunar surface, is ‘Tiranga Point’, which was India’s first contact with the surface of the Moon.
Recent related News:
On May 29, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSLV-F12/NVS-01 mission and placed a second-generation Navigation Satellite, NVS-01, into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman– S. Somanath
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
Formed on– August 15, 1969
