Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended National Space Day greetings while mentioning the country’s space power and Mission Gaganyaan. He said – ‘India is also preparing its astronaut pool. I appeal to the youth to join this pool.’ Modi said that ISRO has initiated Indian Space Hackathon and Robotics Challenge to increase youth’s interest in the space field. This is commendable. This year’s Space Day theme is ‘From Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan’. It has both confidence from the past and resolution for the future. He said, Creating one milestone after another in the space sector has become the nature of our countrymen. Two years ago, India became the first country to reach the South Pole of the Moon and created history. In fact, India became the fourth country to land on the Moon on August 23, 2023. PM Modi declared this day as ‘National Space Day’, after which India celebrates its National Space Day every year on August 23. Modi said – Allowed private sector to enter space sector PM said that there was a time when the space sector was shackled. We broke those shackles and allowed the private sector to enter the space sector, and today there are more than 350 space startups in the country. Soon, the first PSLV built by the private sector will also be launched. India’s first private communication satellite is also being built. Today on Space Day, I would ask the country’s space startups – can we create 5 unicorns in the coming 5 years? PM mentioned meeting with Shubhanshu Shukla Modi said that we have now joined the countries that have space docking and undocking capabilities. Just three days ago, I met with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. With Group Captain Shubhanshu, I have seen the dreams of young India. To advance these dreams, we are also going to prepare India’s astronaut pool. I appeal to the youth to join this pool. Modi said – Now we have to go to the depths of space Modi said – We have now reached the Moon and Mars. Now we need to go into the depths of space, where many mysteries of humanity’s future are hidden. Space always reminds us that no milestone is the final milestone. I believe that there should be no final stop in space sector policies either. That’s why I said from the Red Fort ‘Reform is the path to perform.’ That’s why in the last 11 years, the country has made major reforms in the space sector. Modi said – Currently we see 5-6 major launches in a year. I want that in the next 5 years we should be able to launch one rocket every week, meaning 50 launches per year. The government has both the intention and the power to implement the next-gen reforms that the country needs. Space tech is becoming part of governance in India.
