Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi declared the lunar landing site of Chandrayaan-3 as “Shivshakti point” and established August 23 as “National Space Day” during his address at ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC). Chandrayaan-1, India’s inaugural lunar mission launched in 2008, carried out comprehensive mapping of the Moon. The mission’s Moon Impactor probe crash-landed near the lunar South Pole and was named “Jawahar Point” in honor of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Chandrayaan-2 lander crash-landed in 2019. It was named “Tiranga point”.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Shivshakti Point: The spot where Chandrayaan 3 moon lander landed, that point will be known as Shivshakti point.
- Jawahar Point: The site near the lunar South Pole where the Moon Impactor probe of Chandrayaan-1 crash-landed in tribute to India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on his birthday.
- Chandrayaan-1: India’s inaugural lunar mission launched in 2008, equipped with 11 scientific instruments from various countries, to conduct detailed mapping of the Moon’s surface, mineralogy, and geology.
- Tiranga Point: The location on the Moon’s surface where the Chandrayaan-2 lander crash-landed in 2019. It was named “Tiranga” (meaning tricolor) to symbolize India’s flag.
- National Space Day: August 23 was declared as “National Space Day” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to commemorate India’s achievements in space exploration and technology.
- ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC): A crucial facility of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) responsible for tracking and commanding satellites and spacecraft, including lunar missions.
