India's inaugural National Space Day was marked with pride and celebration as President Droupadi Murmu visited an exhibition showcasing space technologies and achievements at Bharat Mandapam. The event was graced by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and ISRO Chairman S Somanath.
President Murmu expressed her heartfelt congratulations on the occasion, highlighting the significance of August 23, the day when Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Moon. She described it as a "glorious moment for all Indians," noting how the achievement filled her, and the nation, with pride.
The President warmly welcomed the decision to commemorate this historic achievement by designating the day as National Space Day, a commendable step in celebrating India's growing prowess in space exploration.
In her address, President Murmu emphasised the remarkable strides India has made in the space sector since the inception of ISRO. She lauded the organisation for its extraordinary accomplishments, from the Mangalyaan mission, which was completed with minimal resources, to the impressive feat of launching more than 100 satellites at a time. These achievements, she noted, reflect the extraordinary growth of India's space capabilities.
The President was particularly pleased to see the active participation of students in the event. She underscored the importance of space exploration, describing it as both exciting and challenging, with far-reaching benefits across various sectors including health, transportation, environment, energy, security, and information technology.
President Murmu also praised the inclusion of private players in the Indian space sector, which has led to the emergence of numerous space start-ups. This, she said, has opened up new opportunities for India's youth to explore the vast potential of the space industry.
Furthermore, she expressed her satisfaction with ISRO's commitment to making future space missions debris-free by 2030, a significant step towards sustainable space exploration.
The theme for this year's National Space Day, "Touching Lives While Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga," aptly captures the spirit of the celebration. India's journey in space exploration reached a historic milestone on August 23, 2023, when Chandrayaan-3 successfully completed a soft landing on the Moon.
This achievement not only made India the fourth country to accomplish this feat but also the first to land on the lunar South Pole. In recognition of this monumental success, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 23 as National Space Day, a day to honour India's remarkable contributions to space exploration.
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