New Delhi, Aug 22:
India is preparing to celebrate its second National Space Day on Saturday, highlighting the nation’s remarkable journey from satellite launches to human spaceflight.
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled that on August 23, 2023, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India made history by becoming the fourth country to land on the Moon and the first to reach the South Pole region. He said the achievement has inspired India’s vision of infinite possibilities in space.
“Tomorrow, we celebrate the 2nd National Space Day, honouring India’s journey from satellites to human spaceflight,” Dr. Singh wrote on X.
Space Reforms and Growth
India’s space sector has seen major growth since the 2020 space reforms, which led to the creation of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe).
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Over 300 space start-ups have registered in just a few years.
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IN-SPACe enabled two successful sub-orbital flights in 2022 and 2024.
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Six private companies have launched 14 satellites into orbit, showcasing India’s rising private space industry.
Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced that the first uncrewed mission (G1) of the Gaganyaan programme will launch in December 2025 with the humanoid robot Vyommitra onboard.
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, selected as one of the astronauts for Gaganyaan, was also praised for successfully completing a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) — the first ever by an Indian.
Other Milestones
Narayanan added that the recently launched NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is operating well, with all systems functioning normally.
India’s achievements underline the country’s growing role in global space exploration, driving both technological and economic growth.
