The Indian government has officially declared August 23 as ‘National Space Day’ to commemorate the historic moment when Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the South Pole of the Moon. This decision marks a significant milestone in India’s space achievements and is aimed at inspiring younger generations to take an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
Key Points:
- Historic Achievement: On August 23, Chandrayaan-3 became the fourth mission worldwide to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon and the first to land near the Moon’s south pole. The Vikram lander, as part of this mission, also deployed the Pragyan rover to study the lunar surface.
- Benefits for Mankind: The notification highlights that the outcome of this historic mission will have long-term benefits for humanity.
- Inspiration for the Youth: This decision to observe August 23 as National Space Day aims to inspire younger generations to take an interest in STEM disciplines and provide a significant boost to the space sector.
- Announcement by PM Modi: The announcement to designate August 23 as National Space Day was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters in Bengaluru on August 26.
This designation acknowledges India’s growing contributions to space exploration and its commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and space technology.