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India is gearing up to celebrate its first National Space Day on Friday, with the theme “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga,” marking a historic moment in the country's space journey. This commemorates the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made India the fourth country to land on the moon and the first to do so near its southern polar region on 23 August 2023. In recognition of this achievement, August 23 was officially designated as National Space Day, symbolising India's growing prominence in space exploration.
National Space Day 2024
The inaugural National Space Day will be celebrated on 23 August 2024. This day honours India's groundbreaking Chandrayaan-3 mission, which achieved a soft landing on the moon’s surface at a site now known as Shiv Shakti Point, a testament to India’s progress in space science.
Significance of National Space Day
National Space Day celebrates India's technological strides in space research and exploration, with Chandrayaan-3’s success reinforcing the country's role as a key player in the global space community. It also serves as a tribute to the dedication and innovation of ISRO’s scientists and engineers. The day is intended to inspire the next generation of Indians to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), driving future space missions and scientific advancements.
Chandrayaan-3: A Milestone in India's Space History
On 23 August 2023, India's Chandrayaan-3 mission made history by landing on the moon's southern polar region, a feat no other nation had accomplished. After the Vikram Lander’s soft landing, the Pragyan Rover was deployed to explore the lunar surface. The landing site, named Shiv Shakti Point, symbolises India’s strength and achievement in space exploration, cementing the country’s status among the elite spacefaring nations.
On Wednesday, Minister Jitendra Singh said “Gayanyaan Mission is to send the first Indian in Space in 2025” highlighting India's efforts to rise as a world leader in the Space sector. He also recalled his recent meeting with the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral DK Tripathi and underscored ISRO’s partnership with the Indian Navy, primarily for Crew Module recovery.
The Minister highlighted that more than Rs 1,000 crore in investment came in the Space sector within months of collaboration with private partners.
Singh emphasised the role of Startups and said that this sector has around 300 startups, many with global potential. Addressing the media, the minister recalled the Finance Minister’s budget speech in which she mentioned that the Space economy will increase by 5 times in the next 10 years.
Akash Yalagach, CTO and Co-Founder of KaleidEO, highlighted the rapid growth of India's space technology startup ecosystem over the past decade, especially after the sector's liberalisation and praised government initiatives like the Indian Space Policy, 2023 and National Geospatial Policy, 2022, for supporting the private sector.
Recent moves, such as the Rs 1000 crore venture capital fund and a Public-Private Partnership for an Earth Observation System, show the government's commitment to advancing the sector, Yalagach added.
However, Yalagach emphasised the need for streamlined FDI processes, better commercialisation pathways and updated taxation policies to drive further innovation and growth.
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