'Kaal chakra' moment for India: PM Modi hails India's space mission

"Our current generation is privileged to contribute to historic milestones in 'jal', 'thal', 'nabh', and 'antriksh'," noted the prime minister.

Amid chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on February 27 addressed a euphoric audience at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, asserting this very moment as the 'Kaal Chakra' for India when the nation is expanding and occupying its space in the emerging global order.

The prime minister is on a two-day visit to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharahstra, and is slated to launch a slew of developmental projects.

He kicked off his three-state tour from the VSSC by revealing the names of the four astronaut-designates selected to go to space as part of the Gaganyaan mission. The prime minister also unveiled three significant space infrastructure projects and reviewed the progress of ISRO's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.

Women making it big in India's space programme

Women play key roles in space missions such as Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan, said the prime minister, emphasising that these endeavours would not be possible without their substantial contributions.

Made-in-India pride

PM Modi expressed pride and happiness in the fact that a majority of components used in the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission are manufactured in India. "I'm proud and happy that most components used in the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission are made in India," said the prime minister.

Expressing his delight at the four astronaut-selects for the Gaganyaan mission, the prime minister noted, "These individuals signify the four forces set to propel the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians into space. After a hiatus of 40 years, an Indian is set to venture into space. This time, the countdown belongs to us, the moment is ours, and the rocket is also ours..."

Amid chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai", the prime minister further noted that this very moment is the new "Kaal Chakra" for the nation. "In the new 'Kaal Chakra', India is expanding and occupying its space in this emerging global order," said the prime minister.

"Every nation's developmental journey comprises pivotal moments that shape the destiny of future generations. For India, this is one of those defining moments."

India's contribution to multi-layered development

The prime minister, in his address to the audience at VSSC, also expressed his pride and delight in the current generation's ability to contribute to the nation's history across all four elements.

"Our current generation is privileged to contribute to historic milestones in 'jal', 'sthal', 'nabh', and 'antriksh'," he said.

India's galloping space programme

The prime minister further noted how the nation has swiftly catapulted itself to newer heights in space technology on the global map in the past decade.

"In the 21st century, India is impressing the world with its remarkable potential. Over the past decade, the country has launched approximately 400 satellites, a stark contrast to the mere 33 satellites launched in the preceding decade," he noted.

The Prime Minister inaugurated three crucial space infrastructure projects at the VSSC. These projects, with a cumulative cost of about Rs 1800 crore, include the PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; the new 'Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and stage Test facility' at ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri; and the 'Trisonic Wind Tunnel' at VSSC.