‘India Will Build Its Own Space Station’: PM Modi’s Major Announcement on National Space Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India’s ambitious goal to construct its own space station, outlining the nation’s next giant leap in space exploration during his address on National Space Day this Saturday. The announcement marks a significant step forward as India builds on its recent successes, including the historic Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission.

Celebrating the theme ‘Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities’, the Prime Minister detailed the country’s rapid progress in space technology. “Today, India is rapidly advancing in breakthrough technologies like semi-cryogenic engines and electric propulsion,” he stated. “Soon, with the hard work of all you scientists, India will also soar with Gaganyaan and in the coming times, India will build its own space station.”

The address also highlighted the human element of India’s space aspirations. Fresh from a meeting with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently hoisted the Indian flag on the International Space Station, PM Modi announced the creation of an Indian astronaut pool. “The moment, the feeling when he was showing me the tricolour, is beyond words,” Modi remarked.

He extended an invitation to the nation’s youth to join the initiative, saying, “In my discussion with Group Captain Shubhanshu, I have seen the immense courage and infinite dreams of the youth of the new India. To take these dreams forward, we are also going to prepare India’s astronaut pool.”

National Space Day is commemorated on August 23 to celebrate the anniversary of the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s successful soft landing on the moon in 2023. The achievement made India the fourth country to reach the lunar surface and the very first to land near its unexplored south pole. The landing site was named Shiv Shakti Point, immortalising the milestone in India’s space journey.