Bhubaneswar: National Space Day was celebrated at Odisha Space Research Application Centre (ORSAC) on Friday. Minister for Science & Technology Krushna Chandra Patra graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
According to an official press release, Principal Secretary to Science and Technology Department, Chithra Arumugam joining as Guest of Honour spoke on this year’s theme “Touching lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga”.
The Government of India has declared August 23rd as “National Space Day” to celebrate the remarkable success of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission, which accomplished safe and soft landing of the Vikram Lander and deployed the Pragyaan rover on the lunar surface near the South Pole.
This historic achievement places India among an elite group of space faring nations, making India the fourth country to land on the Moon and the first to do so near the South Pole of the Moon. This achievement is being celebrated across the country during July and August 2024, with the goal of engaging and inspiring the younger generation in the field of Space Science and Technology.
To commemorate this auspicious day, ORSAC organised a State-wise function at ORSAC premises today. Eminent persons in the field of Space Science, important dignitaries joined the function. School children particularly from 9th standard of some government schools of Bhubaneswar also participated in the function. Quiz competition on Space Science was held among the participating students and prizes were distributed to the winners.
Chief Executive, ORSAC Rashmita Panda gave the welcome speech. Associate Professor of IIT, Bhubaneswar Dr Debadatta Swain as Chief Speaker delivered his speech on National Space day.
Minister, Science and Technology, Krushna Chandra Patra planted a sapling in ORSAC premises. He also felicitated the students of VSSUT, Burla for showcasing their exhibits and distributed prizes to the students who participated in the Space Science Quiz competition.
In the end Administrative Officer of ORSAC Sofi Sainika delivered the vote of thanks.
