New Delhi: While Indian scientists made August 23 a historic day in country’s moon expeditions with emphatic lunar triumph, Prime Minister Narendra Modi coined new names to make the touchdown moment ‘extra special’.
The landing points on Moon, during India’s two Moon Missions – Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 will be known as Tiranga point & Shivashakti point respectively, PM Modi said in impassioned address to the ISRO scientists in Bengaluru.
The announcement means that India’s both lunar missions have left permanent landmarks on the Moon – Shivashakti & Tiranga points.
PM Modi also called for celebrating August 23 as National Space Day, as this will commemorate successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on Moon’s South pole, every year.
Admiring the contribution of women scientists in Chandrayaan-3 mission, PM Modi said, “All of you witnessed that our women scientists played an indispensable role in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. This ‘Shiv Shakti’ point will inspire the next generation for the betterment of humanity.”
Reminiscing about the setbacks during Chandrayaan-2, PM Modi said name Tiranga point, where the spacecraft landed & went in disarray, will be a testament of India’s determination & might to conquer challenges & obstacles.
What PM Modi said
PM Modi, while returning from Greece, made a direct visit to Bengaluru to meet the ISRO team of scientists which carried out successful landing of Chandrayaan-3.
PM Modi said that though he was in South Africa during Chandryaan-3 landing, he was restless as his mind was occupied with the lunar mission.
PM further said, “I wanted to meet you all, salute you as soon as I landed in India,” and one time, also emotional.
He told scientists that after Chandryaan-2, the landing point was to be named ‘Tiranga’ to hail your indomitable spirit but was delayed till next mission.
“Tiranga point will remind every Indian of our failure and then how fresh endeavour was put with double effort to achieve that mission. It will remind us all that no failure is final,” he said.
