Nagaland University joined the nationwide celebration of the inaugural National Space Day 2024, themed “Touching Lives While Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga,” at Lumami on August 23. The event was organized by the Department of Physics, Nagaland University.
Led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Government of India, National Space Day aims to engage and inspire youth in space science and technology. Prof. M. S. Rawat, Dean of Sciences, underscored the day’s importance by recalling Chandrayaan-3’s historic landing on the Moon’s surface on August 23, 2023. “This achievement made India the fourth country to land on the Moon and the first to land near the Southern Polar Region,” he noted.
Rawat also highlighted that this significant milestone prompted the government to designate August 23 as National Space Day. He emphasized how space science and technology have been crucial in India’s scientific advancements and global reputation, noting the pride and international recognition gained from ISRO’s progress.
He elaborated on India’s journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a leading space technology nation, mentioning ongoing ISRO programs such as the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) for telecommunications and broadcasting, Remote Sensing Programmes (IRS) for satellite imagery, and indigenous spacecraft and launch vehicle development. These initiatives support communications, resource surveys, space sciences, and national development.
Prof. M.K. Sinha, Vice-Chancellor (In-Charge), Nagaland University, praised ISRO’s decades of dedication, which culminated in the historic Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing. He highlighted the Indian space sector’s economic impact, noting its $9.6 billion valuation in 2020 and projected growth to $13 billion by 2025. “This growth will create jobs across various sectors, including technology, agriculture, and environmental management,” he said, expressing optimism for future advancements.
The program, chaired by PhD Scholar Peweu Marhu, began with a welcoming address by Prof. Y. Sundarayya, Head of the Department of Physics. He introduced National Space Day with explanations of space concepts and the Big Bang theory.
The event featured videos on India’s space programmes and missions, including Chandrayaan-3, followed by a prize distribution for a week-long series of competitions, including model making, poster making, essay writing, and drawing, involving Nagaland University students and schoolchildren from JNV Zunheboto and KV NU Lumami. Dr Shanta Singh Naorem, Assistant Professor of Physics, delivered the vote of thanks.
The event saw participation from Nagaland University faculty, officers, administrative staff, research scholars, postgraduate students, and students and staff from Kendriya Vidyalaya NU Lumami and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Zunheboto.
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