National Space Day: Dr. Jitendra Singh Announces Indian Lunar Landing by 2040

Dr. Singh also outlined future projects under the Space Vision 2047, which includes the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035 and the planned lunar landing by 2040.

In a historic celebration of India's inaugural National Space Day, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that India aims to land an astronaut on the Moon by 2040. The announcement was made during a grand event at Bharat Mandapam, in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, where the nation reflected on its remarkable achievements in space exploration and ambitious future goals.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, who serves as the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and other key departments, highlighted India’s space journey, particularly the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon's South Pole. This achievement, he noted, has positioned India as a leader in global space exploration.

The celebration, themed "Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga," resonated with the nation’s accomplishments over the past six decades, including significant missions such as the Mars Orbiter Mission, AstroSat, and the Chandrayaan series. Dr. Singh also outlined future projects under the Space Vision 2047, which includes the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035 and the planned lunar landing by 2040.

Dr. Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership, which has accelerated India’s space missions and opened the sector to private participation, leading to a significant increase in space startups. He also highlighted the projected growth of India’s space economy from $8 billion to $44 billion in the next decade.

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