On August 23, 2023, India accomplished a remarkable milestone with the successful soft landing of the “Vikram” lander near the moon’s southern polar region and the deployment of the Pragyaan rover on the lunar surface. In honour of this achievement, the Hon’ble Prime Minister has declared August 23 as “National Space Day,” to be celebrated annually. The inaugural National Space Day will feature a range of nationwide outreach activities and public engagements.
India has significantly advanced its position in space exploration, marked by its successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing, Mangalyaan Mars mission, and Aditya L1 mission to study the sun. These missions underscore India’s growing capabilities in the space sector. To commemorate the historic Chandrayaan-3 landing, this year’s National Space Day theme is “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga.”
ISRO’s ambitious projects, including the Mars Orbiter Mission 2 (MOM 2) and the Gaganyaan crewed mission, demonstrate the country’s forward-looking approach to space exploration. MOM 2 will feature an advanced drone for detailed Martian atmospheric studies, while Gaganyaan aims to establish India’s human spaceflight capabilities. Private sector involvement has also surged, with initiatives such as Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-S launch and Agnikul Cosmos’ private launchpad development.
These efforts collectively elevate India’s global standing in space exploration and technology. By combining governmental support with private sector innovation, India is advancing its space capabilities while bolstering its strategic and defence positions worldwide. August 23 each year will now commemorate India’s space achievements and inspire further exploration, serving as a reminder of the nation’s commitment to reaching new frontiers.
