Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that to mark the success of Chandrayaan 3's Moon landing, August 23 will be celebrated as National Space Day. Modi's announcement came as he was addressing the Indian Space Research Organisation scientists at the ISRO command centre in Bengaluru.

Prime Minister Modi met ISRO chief S Somanath ISRO Telemetry Tracking & Command Network Mission Control Complex and congratulated him for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon.

He lauded the ISRO scientists and saluted them for their success.

"You have expanded 'Make in India' to Moon. I want to tell the countrymen about your labour. The path from southern India to the southern pole of the Moon was not easy. The artificial moon was created and Vikram Lander was made to land in various ways. It was sure to be a success. You have left a huge impact on the youth of India with your success which will become the foundation of a developed India. On 23rd August, India hoisted the flag on the Moon. From now onwards, that day will be known as National Space Day in India," PM Modi said.

Hailing the efforts of the woman scientists for the successful space mission and the landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon, PM Modi further announced that the point on the moon where Chandrayaan-3 landed will be called ‘Shivshakti’.

“Women scientists played a key role in Chandrayaan 3...this ‘Shivkshakti’ point will inspire the upcoming generations to use science for the welfare of people. The welfare of people is our supreme commitment…”, PM Modi said.

He added further that the point where Chandrayaan 2 crash-landed on the Moon in 2019 will be called ‘Tiranga’. 

"The spot on the lunar surface where the Chandrayaan-2 left its footprints will be known as 'Tiranga'. This will be an inspiration for every effort made by India. it will remind us any failure is not final...," PM Modi said on Saturday.

He further said that the ISRO scientists took ‘Make in India' to the moon, which was a great feat in itself. "You have awakened an entire generation and left a deep imprint on them. This is no ordinary achievement. It’s a roaring announcement of India’s scientific achievement in the infinite universe."

India took a giant leap on Wednesday evening as the Chandrayaan-3 lander module successfully landed on the Moon’s South Pole, making it the first country to have achieved the historic feat and bringing to an end the disappointment over the crash landing of the Chandrayaan-2, four years ago.

Image source: PTI