‘India to Land Astronaut on Moon by 2040’, says Dr. Jitendra Singh

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 23rd August. In a historic announcement during the first-ever National Space Day celebrations, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh revealed that an Indian astronaut will land on the Moon by 2040. The announcement came during a grand event held at Bharat Mandapam, attended by President Droupadi Murmu.

Dr. Singh highlighted India’s significant milestones in space exploration, including the recent Chandrayaan-3 landing on the Moon’s South Pole, which has cemented India’s position as a leader in space technology. The Minister recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s declaration that August 23rd would be celebrated as National Space Day and the Chandrayaan-3 landing site would be named ‘Shiv Shakti Point.’

The theme for the day, “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga,” captured the essence of India’s space journey over the past six decades. Dr. Singh outlined the nation’s achievements, such as the Mars Orbiter Mission, AstroSat, Chandrayaan-2, and the upcoming Aditya-L1 and XPoSat missions.

Reflecting on India’s space history, Dr. Singh noted that while the US astronaut Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon in 1969, India has rapidly advanced its space capabilities. He attributed this progress to Prime Minister Modi’s support, which has accelerated scientific missions and boosted private sector involvement in space.

Looking forward, Dr. Singh presented the Space Vision 2047, which includes the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035 and the Moon landing by 2040. He expressed confidence in India’s growing space economy, projected to rise from $8 billion to $44 billion in the next decade, and emphasized the broad impact of space applications on various sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, and satellite communication.

As National Space Day is celebrated, Dr. Singh expressed optimism that this annual event will further inspire and engage citizens in India’s ambitious space endeavors.