India Marks National Space Day, Celebrating Chandrayaan-3’s Historic Lunar Landing and Spacefaring Evolution

India is celebrating its second National Space Day with significant enthusiasm and pride today. This day commemorates the momentous soft landing of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander on the Moon’s surface on August 23, 2023. This achievement solidified India’s position as the fourth nation to successfully land on the Moon and the first to reach its South Pole. Following the landing, the Pragyan Rover initiated scientific explorations on the lunar surface. The landing site was subsequently named ‘Shiva Shakti Point,’ a symbol of India’s scientific and cultural identity. The Indian government declared August 23 as ‘National Space Day’ in recognition of this remarkable feat, signifying the nation’s expanding space capabilities. This year’s theme, ‘Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: From Ancient Knowledge to Limitless Possibilities,’ reflects India’s journey from its astronomical heritage to its contemporary space missions. This day embodies the ongoing progress of ISRO, its leadership in space science, and its global recognition in satellite technology and research, serving as an inspiration for India’s continued advancement in space exploration.