ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 success being celebrated on India's first-ever National Space Day today

New Delhi: India is celebrating its first-ever National Space Day today, with the theme “Touching Lives While Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga.”

This commemorative day was established following India’s significant achievement on August 23, 2023, when the Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully performed a soft landing on the Moon. This historic event made India the fourth nation to achieve such a feat and the first to land at the Moon’s South Pole. In honor of this remarkable milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 23 as National Space Day.

Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Nitin Gadkari, and Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya expressed their pride and gratitude on social media platform X, celebrating India’s space accomplishments and thanking PM Modi for his leadership.

Hardeep Singh Puri shared, “On National Space Day, we celebrate ISRO’s extraordinary journey. From transporting rocket components on bullock carts to landing on the Moon’s South Pole, India’s space program has achieved new heights. Indian Oil’s Cryogenics has played a crucial role, and under PM @narendramodi ji’s visionary guidance, our space saga continues as we gear up for Gaganyaan in 2024.”

Nitin Gadkari posted, “On this #NationalSpaceDay, let’s celebrate India’s cosmic achievements, from #Chandrayaan-3’s lunar success to the inspiring #Aditya-L1 #solar mission. We salute our brilliant scientists and the @isro team who make India’s space dreams a reality. With future missions like #Gaganyaan, India is poised for even greater achievements. Here’s to our space pioneers and the vast frontiers they continue to explore! Celebrate National Space Day on 23 August 2024! Theme: ‘Touching Lives While Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga.’ Space exploration shapes our world and fuels our imagination. Join us in honoring India’s incredible space journey and its impact on our lives. Let’s unite in pride and celebrate this monumental day!”

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya added, “As the nation comes together to celebrate #NationalSpaceDay, we fondly remember our scientists’ historic achievements. This day marks a pivotal moment in our pursuit of space exploration, and we remain dedicated to the goal of ‘Touching Lives While Touching the Moon.'”

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways also acknowledged the occasion on X, stating, “Today, India celebrates its 1st National Space Day. Last year on this day, the Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed the Vikram Lander on the lunar surface. India became the 4th country in the world to land a rover on the moon and the 1st to do so near the southern polar region.”

(With ANI inputs)