India is observing its second National Space Day with great pride, marking the anniversary of the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s successful lunar landing on August 23, 2023. This accomplishment made India the fourth country to achieve a Moon landing and the first to reach the lunar South Pole. The Pragyan Rover commenced scientific research on the Moon’s surface after the landing, and the landing site was named ‘Shiva Shakti Point,’ symbolizing India’s commitment to scientific advancement and cultural identity. In recognition of this historic event, the Indian government declared August 23 as ‘National Space Day,’ emphasizing the country’s growing capabilities in space exploration. The theme for this year is ‘Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: From Ancient Knowledge to Limitless Possibilities,’ which connects India’s historical astronomical knowledge with its modern space initiatives. This theme pays tribute to the contributions of Aryabhata and highlights future projects, including the Gaganyaan human space mission. The goal is to encourage young people to pursue careers in STEM and to showcase the ways space technology can aid sustainable development in fields such as agriculture, communication, disaster management, meteorology, and navigation.
