NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday shared a video of his interaction with members of India’s space startups on the occasion of National Space Day, highlighting their energy and ambition in the country’s growing space sector.Sharing the video on X, PM Modi wrote, “Met India’s brightest space StartUps. As always, came away impressed by their energy and ambition. You would love their insights and optimism.”He also asked people to share their views on India’s space programme, writing, “Do tell me…what excites you most about India’s space journey?”
PM Modi, Shah greet citizens on National Space Day
PM Modi had earlier greeted citizens on National Space Day, saying, “Happy National Space Day! Here’s to dreaming even bigger, innovating more and pushing newer frontiers….”Union home minister Amit Shah also extended his greetings, noting that the day commemorates India’s Chandrayaan-3 landing on the Moon’s south polar region.“Warm greetings to every citizen on #NationalSpaceDay. It is a momentous day that marks the occasion when India’s Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the Moon’s South Pole, and celebrates our scientists at Isro for making an indelible imprint of their genius on the sands of time,” Shah said in a post on X.National Space Day is observed on August 23 to commemorate the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon in 2023.
Chandrayaan-3 achievement at centre of celebrations
The Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3 made a controlled soft landing on the lunar surface on August 23, 2023, making India the first country to achieve a soft landing near the Moon’s south polar region.The Pragyan rover was subsequently deployed to conduct scientific experiments and collect data.The third National Space Day celebrations were held in Ahmedabad on Sunday, with Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Gujarat Cabinet Minister Arjun Modhwadia, Isro Chairman V Narayanan and IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Goenka among those attending, according to ANI.Narayanan recalled the early years of India’s space programme while highlighting the country’s progress in the sector.“When we started the country’s space programme, we moved rocket parts using old bicycles. We did not have any other vehicles. From that humble beginning, today we have reached the number one position in nine areas,” he said.The Isro chairman also said Chandrayaan-3 had generated scientific data that was made available to researchers globally.
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“Chandrayaan-3 achieved a soft landing near the south pole of the Moon. Today, it is not only about the soft landing; we have also obtained a wealth of scientific data,” Narayanan said.He described the mission’s ability to inspire Indians as another major achievement, saying, “One of the major achievements of Chandrayaan-3 was that it inspired 140 crore Indians across the globe.”National Space Day celebrations are aimed at highlighting India’s achievements in space exploration and encouraging greater interest in science, technology, research and innovation.
