India is celebrating its first National Space Day on August 23, 2024 as the one-year anniversary of successful moon landing of ISRO’s Vikram Lander from Chandrayaan-3 on August 23, 2023. India made history on August 23, 2023, by becoming the fourth nation to successfully land on the Moon and the first to reach its southern polar region.To commemorate this monumental achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 23 as “National Space Day.” India celebrate its first National Space Day with the theme, “Touching lives while touching the Moon: India’s space saga”. This theme reflects the transformative impact of India’s space exploration on society, highlighting the nation’s journey from curiosity to active participation in the cosmos. The day is not just about celebrating past achievements but also about inspiring future generations and emphasising the societal benefits of space technology. Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Nitin Gadkari, and Mansukh Mandaviya expressed joy over India’s space achievements.He said on X, “Greetings to everyone on the first National Space Day. We recall with great pride our nation’s achievements in the space sector. It is also a day to laud the contributions of our space scientists.”
“Our Government has taken a series of futuristic decisions relating to this sector and we will do even more in the times to come,” he added.
The National Space Day celebrations is at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, where a grand two-day event is underway. The event features high-profile sessions, interactive exhibitions, and major announcements about India’s space achievements.
For those unable to attend in person, the celebrations are being streamed live on ISRO’s website and YouTube channel, allowing people across the country and around the world to participate in the festivities.