Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that achieving milestones in space has become “second nature” for India and its scientists, as he virtually addressed the National Space Day celebrations in New Delhi.
Recalling the success of Chandrayaan-3, which made India the first country to land on the Moon’s South Pole, the Prime Minister said, “Achieving new milestones one after another in the space sector has become the nature of India and Indian scientists.”
He praised Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla for hoisting the tricolour at the International Space Station during NASA’s Axiom-4 mission, calling it a moment of immense pride for the nation. Modi also highlighted India’s growing technological prowess in areas such as semi-cryogenic engines, electric propulsion, and docking systems.
The Prime Minister invited India’s youth to join the country’s first astronaut pool, underlining the government’s commitment to expanding opportunities in the space sector. He reiterated that the country’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission and plans for a future Indian space station reflect New India’s courage and vision.
This year’s National Space Day theme, “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan,” reflects India’s journey from its earliest space achievements to its upcoming human spaceflight program. Modi stressed that India must never pause in its policy reforms for space, noting that the sector has undergone major transformations in the past 11 years.
The Prime Minister also hailed India’s recent hosting of the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, in which 300 students from over 60 countries participated, with Indian youth winning medals. He described the event as a symbol of India’s emerging leadership in the global space sector.
National Space Day is observed every year on August 23, marking the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon in 2023. The main event this year was attended by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, ISRO chief V Narayanan, and Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla.
India’s human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, has entered its final phase, with the first mission scheduled for early 2027. Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair and Shubanshu Shukla will be part of the crew.
