New Delhi: The Government of India has officially designated August 23 as “National Space Day” to commemorate the historic success of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission. This mission achieved a significant milestone with the Vikram Lander’s safe and soft landing and the deployment of the Pragyaan rover on the lunar surface near the Moon’s South Pole.
India’s accomplishment positions it as the fourth nation to land on the Moon and the first to do so near its South Pole. The success is being celebrated nationwide throughout July and August 2024, with a focus on inspiring the younger generation in the fields of Space Science and Technology.
The inaugural National Space Day will be observed on August 23 with the theme “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga.” Leading up to this event, a series of activities will highlight India’s achievements in space, the societal benefits of space exploration, and the opportunities available for public engagement with the Indian space program.
The main celebrations will take place in New Delhi on August 22-23. M Sankaran, a distinguished ISRO scientist and Director of the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, emphasized the significance of National Space Day in a recent media briefing.
In addition, the Department of Fisheries, under the guidance of Dr. Abhilaskh Likhi, is organizing a series of seminars and demonstrations on “Application of Space Technologies in Fisheries Sector” across 18 coastal States and UTs. Topics will include the use of space technology in fisheries, communication and navigation systems for the marine domain, and space-based observation’s impact on enhancing the fisheries sector.