In a momentous celebration marking the first National Space Day, minister of state (independent charge) for science and technology Dr. Jitendra Singh announced here on Friday that an Indian will land on the surface of Moon, fifteen years from now, in the year 2040.

Addressing the nation in the presence of president Droupadi Murmu and ISRO chairman S. Somanath, Dr Singh reflected on India’s remarkable achievements in Space exploration and its ambitious future goals in a majestic programme held at Bharat Mandapam.

Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon's South Pole, a feat that astonished the world and established India as a leader in space exploration.

Prime minister Narendra Modi, he recalled, had announced that August 23, 2023 would be celebrated as National Space Day, and the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 would be named ‘Shiv Shakti Point.’ The theme for this inaugural celebration, "Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga," resonated throughout the event.

"In the last six decades, India has not only touched the lives of its citizens but also reached the Moon," said Dr. Singh. He emphasised the significant progress made in the past decade, including the successful Mars Orbiter Mission, the launch of AstroSat, Chandrayaan-2, and Chandrayaan-3, the upcoming Aditya-L1 solar mission, and the XPoSat, an X-Ray astronomy mission.

Dr. Singh traced India’s Space journey beginning only 55 years back in 1969 when the US astronaut Neil Armstrong had already set his foot on the Moon. He lauded the scientific community for their unwavering dedication, which culminated in India becoming the first nation to land on the Moon's South Pole.

The minister of state for space credited the policy support and leadership provided by the PM since 2014 for accelerating scientific missions and unlocking the potential of India’s scientific community. He also noted the significant increase in space startups, now numbering nearly 300, following the opening of the space sector to private participation. He echoed the finance minister’s projection that India’s space economy will grow from $8 billion to $44 billion in the next decade.

Dr. Singh praised the PM for "unshackling" the space sector and making it more accessible to the public, as evidenced by the over 5,000 spectators and nearly 1,000 media personnel who witnessed the Chandrayaan-3 launch live at Sriharikota.

Looking ahead, Dr. Singh outlined the Space Vision 2047, which includes the commissioning of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035 and Indian astronauts landing on the Moon by 2040. He expressed confidence that what begins with human spaceflight in Low Earth Orbit will expand to India’s own scientific activities onboard an indigenous space station, leading to further lunar exploration and beyond.

Dr. Singh highlighted India’s end-to-end capabilities in Space transportation, platforms, and ground stations were highlighted as a key aspect of the country’s self-reliance in the space sector. He also underscored the impact of space applications on sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, natural resource management, disaster management, and satellite communication, which have all benefited from India’s space advancements.

As the nation celebrates its first National Space Day, Dr. Singh expressed confidence that this annual event will inspire greater awareness and enthusiasm among citizens about India’s space journey and its future endeavors.