Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India is working towards building its own space station during the National Space Day address to the nation on Saturday.
PM Modi mentioned Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s space mission success, announcing that the country will soon build an astronaut pool. He urged the young minds to join the initiative.
“Today, India is rapidly advancing in breakthrough technologies like semi-cryogenic engines and electric propulsion. Soon, with the hard work of all you scientists, India will also soar with Gaganyaan and in the coming times, India will build its own space station," said PM Modi
This year, the National Space Day is being celebrated on the theme ‘Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities’.
“Just 3 days ago, I met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. He filled every Indian with pride by hoisting the tricolour on the International Space Station. The moment, the feeling when he was showing me the tricolour, is beyond words," PM Modi remarked.
“In my discussion with Group Captain Shubhanshu, I have seen the immense courage and infinite dreams of the youth of the new India. To take these dreams forward, we are also going to prepare India’s astronaut pool. Today on Space Day, I invite my young friends to join this astronaut pool to give wings to India’s dreams," he added.
National Space Day marks India’s historic achievement on August 23, 2023, when the Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully carried out a soft landing of the Vikram Lander on the lunar surface, followed by the deployment of the Pragyan Rover.
With this milestone, India became the fourth nation to land on the Moon and the first to do so near its south pole. The landing site was named Shiv Shakti Point.
To commemorate the accomplishment, the Government of India declared August 23 as “National Space Day."
