The North News
New Delhi, August 23
Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked National Space Day with a video message, highlighting India’s rapid progress in space technology and pledging bold new targets, including building the country’s own space station. He said this year’s Space Day theme — “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities” — reflects India’s heritage and ambitions in space. He congratulated Indian scientists, engineers and youth, describing their achievements as a source of national pride.
The Prime Minister recalled milestones such as India’s historic landing at the Moon’s south pole, its docking and undocking capabilities in space, and the recent feat of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla unfurling the national flag at the International Space Station. He also invited students to join India’s planned Astronaut Pool.
“Soon, through the hard work of our scientists, Bharat will launch Gaganyaan, and in the coming years, Bharat will also build its own space station,” Mr Modi said. “Beyond galaxies lies our horizon.”
The Prime Minister underlined reforms that have opened the sector to private participation, noting that more than 350 space-tech startups are now operating in India. He announced that the country’s first private PSLV rocket and first private communication satellite are under development, alongside plans for an Earth Observation Satellite Constellation.
Looking ahead, Modi challenged startups to create five unicorns in the next five years and said he wants to see rocket launches rise from six per year to fifty annually. “One every week,” he declared, promising full government support for the next wave of reforms.
PM Modi stressed that space technology was not only about exploration but also about improving everyday life, from crop insurance assessments to disaster management and the Gati Shakti master plan. He urged young innovators to develop new solutions for citizens, expressing confidence that India’s space journey would “touch new heights” in the years ahead.
