National Space Day 2024: Theme, origin, significance—all you need to know about ISRO Chandrayaan 3 Mission

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… pic.twitter.com/E7QcNDSm4u

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 23, 2024

The Indian government officially designated August 23 as National Space Day in recognition of this significant accomplishment, reflecting India’s expanding capabilities in space exploration and highlighting the vital role of space science and technology in national development.

National Space Day 2024: Know about the Chandrayaan-3 mission and theme

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, achieved a safe and soft landing of the Vikram Lander on the Moon’s surface.

This achievement signifies a historic milestone for the nation, as India became only the fourth country globally to successfully land a rover on the Moon and the first to do so in the southern polar region.

The successful soft landing made India the fourth country, after the United States, Russia, and China, to achieve the feat.

Accompanied by the Pragyaan Rover, the Vikram Lander touched down at a site designated as ‘Shiv Shakti.’ Following the successful landing, the Pragyaan Rover was deployed, further advancing India’s exploration efforts on the lunar surface.

The theme for National Space Day 2024 is “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga,” highlighting the broader impact of space exploration on society and emphasising how advancements in space technology can enhance the quality of life on Earth.

National Space Day 2024: Significance and celebrations

On the call of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi avaru, India celebrates its first-ever National Space Day today, August 23rd. This day honors the historic success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which achieved a soft landing on the lunar South Pole on 23 August 2023, establishing… pic.twitter.com/4zbB1nEUwf

— ಹೆಚ್.ಡಿ.ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ | H.D.Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) August 23, 2024

Celebrations for National Space Day are taking place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with events streamed live on ISRO’s official website and YouTube channel.
These aim to engage the public and inspire future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

National Space Day serves not only as a celebration of India’s achievements in space but also as a platform to promote awareness and education about the importance of space exploration.

By commemorating this day, India underscores its commitment to advancing space science and technology, fostering international collaboration, and inspiring innovation.