Chandrayaan-3 landing anniversary on August 23: ISRO to unveil images from Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover

With Chandrayaan-3’s success, India became the fourth country to land on the Moon and the first to reach its southern pole. (Pic courtesy: ISRO/X)

India is celebrating its first-ever National Space Day on August 23, 2024, commemorating the historic soft landing of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander on the Moon’s surface. The event marks a significant milestone in India's space history, making the country the fourth nation to land on the Moon and the first to reach its southern polar region. And to mark this occasion, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will release a treasure trove of images captured by the Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover during the historic lunar exploration mission.

To honor the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and inspire future generations, the Union government officially declared August 23 as National Space Day in 2023. This celebration, to be held at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi will be graced by the President of India, prominent space scientists, and other dignitaries.

The theme for India's first National Space Day celebrations is “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga,” which highlights the impact of India’s space program on daily life and its strides in technological innovation. The day is packed with space-themed events, including exhibits, demonstrations, panel discussions, and cultural programs, aimed at generating interest in space science and inspiring young minds.

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, emphasized the importance of National Space Day in showcasing the nation’s advancements in space exploration and encouraging future talent. He also noted the rapid growth of the Indian space sector in recent months. The Minister lauded the rise of space startups, which have grown from a handful to around 300, many with global potential.

National Space Day is a tribute to India’s growing space economy and scientific achievements, serving as a reminder of the significant contributions space exploration makes to national pride  technological progress.

Chandrayaan-3 successful launch on July 14, 2023

The Launch Vehicle Mark - III (LVM3) of the ISRO, carrying the Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft lifted off from from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, on July 14, 2023 at 2.35 pm. Fifteen minutes post-launch, the Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft successfully separated from the LVM3 launch vehicle in an orbit near the Earth and commenced its long way towards the Moon. The spacecraft, comprising of a lander and rover, made a soft landing on the Moon on August 23, 2023.

The successful landing made India the fourth country after the US, the Soviet Union and China to achieve a soft landing on the Moon. Also, this marked India to be the first country to land on the south pole of the Moon. The mission is a follow-up to the Chandrayaan-2 launch of 2019 which, despite providing valuable data and insights about the Moon, failed its main objective of landing on the lunar surface. The 2008 Chandrayaan-1 mission was immensely successful and it had documented evidence of water molecules on the Moon.