Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 26 announced that August 23 will be celebrated as National Space Day to mark Chandrayaan 3’s landing on the Moon.
PM Modi also announced that the touchdown spot of the Vikram lander on the lunar surface would from now onwards be known as the ‘Shivshakti’ point while the Chandrayaan 2 Lunar landing point will be called the ‘Tiranga’ point.
“This will be an inspiration for every effort made by India. it will remind us any failure is not final…,” PM Modi said.
A visibly emotional Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed scientists at the Indian Space Research organisation’s command centre in Bengaluru, who were involved in the Chandrayaan 3 mission and lauded them for their efforts.
Interacting with our @isro scientists in Bengaluru. The success of Chandrayaan-3 mission is an extraordinary moment in the history of India's space programme. https://t.co/PHUY3DQuzb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 26, 2023
“On August 23, India hoisted the flag on the Moon. From now onwards, that day will be known as National Space Day in India”, said PM Modi
“Today, I am very feeling a new kind of happiness among you,” a beaming PM added.
“Such kind of happiness… these are very rare occasions when the whole body and soul is drenched in happiness,” PM Modi said while addressing the scientists at ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and Command Network Mission Control Complex in Bengaluru.
He said the scientists had taken the Make In India initiative to the Moon, referring to the boost to indigenous productions due to Chandrayaan 3’s success.
PM Modi said he was on a two-nation visit to South Africa and Greece but his mind was completely with the scientists.
He said that he wanted to salute the scientists as soon as possible. “I could not stop myself as I was not in the country, but I decided to visit Bengaluru first and meet our scientists right after visiting India,” he said as the scientists cheered and broke into applause.
“…I can see before my eyes every second of that day of August 23…” PM Modi said recalling the final 15 challenging minutes of the Chandrayaan 3. “I salute your dedication. I salute your patience. I salute your hard work. I salute your inspiration,” said PM Modi as he turned emotional.
The Prime Minister was accorded a warm reception as he arrived at the ISRO headquarters this morning. He met the team of scientists involved in the country’s third lunar mission — Chandrayaan 3 and enveloped ISRO chief Somanath in a hug.
Locals with posters and the national flag had gathered on the streets outside the airport in to welcome PM Narendra Modi. Upon landing at the HAL airport in Bengaluru, he greeted people gathered and raised the slogan ‘Jai Vigyan Jai Anusandhan’ outside the airport.
India entered record books as the first country to successfully place a lander on the unexplored lunar South Pole on August 23 evening.
PM Modi, who followed the final moments of the touchdown of the lunar lander, ‘Vikram’, virtually from South Africa where he was attending the 15th BRICS Summit, met the scientists behind the country’s maiden lunar landing project at the ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and Command Network Mission Control Complex in Bengaluru.
ISRO Chairman S Somanath personally received PM Modi, who patted his back and hugged him for the successful culmination of the daunting lunar landing mission.
He also posed for a group photo with the team of scientists behind the project.
S Somanath briefed PM Modi on the ISRO’s 40-day journey to the lunar South Pole and the efforts that went into the project.
“I could not stop myself as I was not in the country, but I decided to visit Bengaluru first and meet our scientists right after visiting India,” PM Modi on his arrival to the Garden City.
India achieved a successful lunar landing, becoming only the fourth country to reach the milestone after the US, Russia and China, congratulations and good wishes poured in from world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka ‘Prachanda’, among others.
(with inputs from ANI)
