National Space Day: As the nation gears up to celebrate the National Space Day on Friday, PM Modi took to social media platform X and extended greetings on the occasion.


India is set to celebrate its first-ever National Space Day on Friday to commemorate the remarkable success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which witnessed the triumphant landing of the Vikram lander and the deployment of the Pragyaan Rover on the lunar surface. 


National Space Day this year will be celebrated on the theme "Touching Lives While Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga".


“Greetings to everyone on the first National Space Day. We recall with great pride our nation’s achievements in the space sector. It is also a day to laud the contributions of our space scientists. Our government has taken a series of futuristic decisions relating to this sector, and we will do even more in the times to come,” he wrote.






On 23 August 2023, India achieved a historic milestone when the Chandrayaan-3 lander completed a soft landing on the moon. India became only the fourth country to accomplish this feat and the 1st to land on the lunar South Pole. In recognition of this achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared August 23 as National Space Day.


Taking to social media platform X, Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Nitin Gadkari, and Dr Mansukh Mandaviya expressed joy over India's space achievements and gratitude towards PM Modi.


"Today, we celebrate ISRO's incredible journey on National Space Day. From transporting rocket components on bullock carts to landing on the Moon's South Pole, India's space program has reached new heights. With Indian Oil's Cryogenics playing a key role, our space saga continues under PM @narendramodi ji's visionary leadership as we prepare for Gaganyaan in 2024," Hardeep Singh Puri posted on X.






"On this #NationalSpaceDay, let's celebrate 's cosmic strides, from #Chandrayaan-3's lunar triumph to the awe-inspiring #Aditya-L1 #solar mission. We salute the brilliance of our scientists and the @isro crew who make India's cosmic dreams a reality. With upcoming missions like #Gaganyaan, India is set to reach even greater heights. Here's to our space pioneers and the boundless 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 honouring the incredible journey of India's space endeavours and their impact on our lives. Let's come together with pride and celebrate this monumental day!" wrote Nitin Gadkari on X.






National Space Day: Everything You Need To Know


Last year, the PM Modi led Central government declared August 23 as 'National Space Day' to commemorate the remarkable success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The government had made the announcement in a Gazette notification last year. 


"In the wake of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission's success on August 23, 2023, with the landing of the Vikram lander and the deployment of the Pragyaan Rover on the lunar surface, India joins an elite group of spacefaring nations," read the Gazette notification.


As per the Gazette notification, this proclamation highlights the significance of this day in India's relentless pursuit of advancements in space missions. The move aims to serve as a source of inspiration for younger generations, fostering a heightened interest in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), while providing a significant boost to the burgeoning space sector.


The declaration pertaining to the same was made by the PM during a meeting with scientists at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network Mission Control Complex in Bengaluru in August 2023.


Following the triumphant landing on August 23, the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover embarked on a series of successful lunar activities and experiments, further consolidating India's achievements in space exploration. Both the rover and lander were placed in sleep mode in preparation for their reactivation on September 23, but communication could not be re-established.