Ministry of Earth Sciences Hosts National Media Interaction on 'Mission Mausam' The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) held a national-level media interaction on the ambitious Mission Mausam at Prithvi Bhavan, New Delhi. The session was led by Dr. M Ravichandran, Secretary of MoES, alongside Dr. Mritunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and Dr. V.S. Prasad, Head of the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). Approved by the Union Cabinet on September 11, 2024, with a budget of ₹2,000 crores over two years, Mission Mausam aims to transform India into a "Weather-Ready" and "Climate-Smart" nation. The mission focuses on advancing the country's weather and climate observation, modeling, and forecasting capabilities, to provide more accurate and timely services. Key Objectives of Mission Mausam: Develop Cutting-Edge Technologies: Introduce next-generation radars, satellites with advanced instr...
India Celebrates Historic National Space Day: Chandrayaan-3's Triumph and Ambitious Future
India has made history with its inaugural National Space Day, a celebration underscoring the nation’s monumental achievements in space exploration. At the heart of the festivities, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, shared groundbreaking news: by 2040, an Indian astronaut will set foot on the Moon.
In a grand event at Bharat Mandapam, attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Dr. Singh reflected on India's stellar journey in space. He highlighted the recent triumph of Chandrayaan-3, which made a historic landing on the Moon's South Pole, cementing India's status as a global space pioneer.
Looking ahead, Dr. Singh unveiled India’s ambitious Space Vision 2047, which includes plans for a homegrown space station and further lunar exploration. With projections estimating India’s space economy to reach $44 billion over the next decade, the nation's space odyssey is just beginning.
This momentous day not only celebrates past achievements but also sets the stage for an exciting future, showcasing India’s relentless spirit of exploration and innovation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent announcement marked August 23rd, 2023, as National Space Day, a historic moment for India as the Chandrayaan-3 landing site was officially named ‘Shiv Shakti Point.’ The inaugural event, themed "Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga," reverberated with the achievements and aspirations of India's space journey.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Space, celebrated the profound strides India has made over the past 60 years. "In the last six decades, India has not only touched the lives of its citizens but also reached the Moon," he stated. He highlighted the impressive milestones of the past decade: from the triumphant Mars Orbiter Mission and AstroSat launch to the Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 missions, with the Aditya-L1 solar mission and XPoSat (an X-ray astronomy mission) on the horizon.
Reflecting on India’s space odyssey, Dr. Singh traced its origins back to 1969, a year when Neil Armstrong was walking on the Moon. He commended the scientific community’s relentless dedication, which led India to become the first country to land on the Moon's South Pole.
The Minister attributed the accelerated pace of scientific achievements to Prime Minister Modi's leadership and supportive policies since 2014. This has not only bolstered India's space missions but also spurred the growth of nearly 300 space startups, thanks to the sector's opening to private enterprise. Dr. Singh echoed the Finance Minister’s optimistic forecast that India’s space economy could leap from $8 billion to $44 billion within the next decade.
Dr. Singh lauded PM Modi for transforming the space sector into a more inclusive domain, as demonstrated by the presence of over 5,000 spectators and nearly 1,000 media representatives who witnessed the Chandrayaan-3 launch live from Sriharikota.
Looking to the future, Dr. Singh unveiled the Space Vision 2047, which aims to see the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) operational by 2035 and Indian astronauts landing on the Moon by 2040. He expressed confidence that this vision will pave the way for India’s expansion into human spaceflight in Low Earth Orbit, an indigenous space station, and further lunar exploration.
Dr. Singh emphasized India's comprehensive capabilities in space transportation, platforms, and ground stations as a testament to the nation’s self-reliance in space. He also highlighted the far-reaching benefits of space applications on fisheries, agriculture, natural resource management, disaster response, and satellite communication.
As India commemorates its first National Space Day, Dr. Singh is optimistic that this annual celebration will spark greater public awareness and enthusiasm for the country’s space achievements and future aspirations.
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