Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his joy and pride as he met with the dedicated scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) in Bengaluru. This historic meeting was to celebrate the remarkable success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Isro Chairman S Somanath warmly welcomed the Prime Minister, who showed his appreciation by patting Somanath’s back and sharing a heartfelt hug. This gesture symbolized the successful culmination of the challenging lunar landing mission.
During his interaction with the Isro scientists, the Prime Minister became emotional, acknowledging the team’s unwavering dedication and relentless efforts. He spoke highly of their commitment and hard work.
Honoring the Mission
Prime Minister Modi made a significant announcement. He declared that the exact location on the Moon where Chandrayaan-3’s moon lander touched down would be named ‘Shiv Shakti’. Furthermore, he proclaimed August 23 as ‘National Space Day’ to commemorate this historic achievement.
A Rare Occasion
In his address to the Isro scientists, the Prime Minister conveyed his unique happiness, emphasizing that such occasions were indeed rare and special. He reminisced about his restlessness while he was in South Africa and how his thoughts were with the Isro team. He saluted their efforts and commended them for taking the ‘Make in India’ initiative all the way to the Moon.
India’s Historic Achievement
PM Modi proudly declared, “The height to which you have taken the country is not an ordinary height, not an ordinary success. India is on the moon. We have our national pride placed on the moon. We went where no one had gone. We did what no one has ever done before. ” This marked India’s historic achievement as the first country to land near the south pole of the Moon since China in 2020.
Remembering Chandrayaan-2
Recalling a previous mission, the Prime Minister announced that the spot on the Moon where Chandrayaan-2 had left its imprints in 2019 would be named ‘Tiranga’. PM Modi had personally witnessed the planned touchdown of Chandrayaan-2’s ‘Vikram’ lander in 2019, which unfortunately lost contact with Isro just moments before landing.
Isro’s Role in India’s Transformation
Highlighting India’s significant progress, PM Modi stated, “Today, from trade to technology, India is being counted among the countries standing in the first row. In the journey from ‘third row’ to ‘first row’, institutions like our ‘Isro’ have played a huge role. “
India’s successful landing on the Moon with Chandrayaan-3 signifies a pioneering achievement in space exploration. This monumental success not only makes the nation proud but also reaffirms India’s position as a leader in space technology and exploration.