PM Narendra Modi has announced that the day when Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon, i.e. August 23, will now be observed as National Space Day to celebrate the success of India's third lunar mission. The Prime Minister was addressing the scientists at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network Mission Control Complex in Bengaluru. He said that though he was in South Africa and Greece, his mind was here as Inia prepared for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3. PM Modi also named the landing site of India's third Moon mission on the lunar surface 'Shiv Shakti'.
He also named the touch-down point of Chandryaan-2 on the Moon 'Tiranga'.
PM Modi began his address by saying that he was so restless when Chandrayaan-3's landing moments came. He said he was in South Africa but his mind was with scientists of ISRO. He added that as soon as he concluded his Greece visit, he wanted to meet and salute the people behind the success of Chandrayaan-3.
"I wanted to meet you all, salute you as soon as I landed in India," PM Modi said as he got emotional while addressing ISRO scientists.
He said that every second of Chandrayaan-3's landing on August 23 is passing before his eyes. "This is India, which thinks innovatively and uniquely. This is the India which goes to dark zones and illuminates the world by spreading light," he added.
PM Modi said the success of Chandryaan-3 is a roaring announcement of India’s scientific achievement in the infinite universe. "With India on Moon, we have our national pride placed on the Moon," he further said.
Naming the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 'Shiv Shakti', PM lauded the role women scientists played in the entire Moon mission.
"Women scientists played a key role in Chandrayaan 3..this 'Shivkshakti' point will inspire the upcoming generations to use science for the welfare of people. The welfare of people is our supreme commitment..", the Prime Minister said.
He also named the touch-down point of Chandryaan-2. "The spot on the lunar surface where the Chandrayaan-2 left its footprints in 2019 will be known as 'Tiranga'. This will be an inspiration for every effort made by India. it will remind us any failure is not final..," he said.
Praising the ISRO, PM said that our scientists built an artificial Moon at the Indian Space Research Organisation research facility to test the soft landing of the lander. "The lander was bound to succeed as it passed several tests before going there (to the Moon)," PM Modi added.
PM Modi said that experts suggest that in a few years, India's space industry will become $16 billion from $8 billion.
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