India’s First National Space Day: 7 key things you should know

Dr Vikram Sarabhai is celebrated as the father of the Indian space program. His visionary leadership and foundational work laid the groundwork for India’s space agency, ISRO. 
 

The first significant milestone in India’s space journey was the launch of the "Aryabhata" satellite on April 19, 1975, from the Soviet Union. 

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, known as the "Missile Man of India," played a crucial role in advancing India's space and missile programmes. 

Dr Kalpana Chawla, an aerospace engineer and astronaut, was the first Indian-born woman to go to space. She flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia and became an icon.
 

India’s significant space programs include the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), which made India the first country to successfully reach Mars on its first attempt.
 

The celebration of National Space Day will also spotlight India’s future space missions, including the Gaganyaan mission.
 

Gaganyaan mission aims to send Indian astronauts into space, and other ambitious projects aimed at deepening India’s role in global space exploration.