National Space Day 2024 - Fun Activities by CBSE Schools, Quiz, Theme

India's first National Space Day is on August 23, 2024. This special day was declared in honour of the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon on August 23, 2023, so CBSE urged schools to join the National Space Day 2024 Celebrations. On this day ISRO accomplished the safe and soft landing of Vikram lander at ‘Shiv Shakti’ point and the deployment of Pragyaan Rover on the lunar surface. It's a day to celebrate India's achievements in space exploration and inspire future generations of scientists and engineers

This Story also Contains

1. Fun Activities by CBSE Schools
2. India's Moon Mission: Chandrayaan-3
3. India's Space Adventure

To commemorate India's historic lunar mission, August 23, 2024, has been designated as the inaugural National Space Day. To inspire young minds and celebrate this momentous achievement, nationwide celebrations are planned throughout August 2024. With the theme "Touching Lives While Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga," the nation will come together to explore the wonders of space technology and its impact on our lives.

Fun Activities by CBSE Schools

CBSE has urged schools to conduct engaging activities that inspire students to learn about space exploration and India's achievements in this field. Here is the list of activities:

• Last year, ten grade-specific modules focusing on Chandrayaan were introduced and have since been translated into thirteen regional languages. It is recommended that these modules be promoted among students and educators. The Chandrayaan modules can be accessed at: https://ncert.nic.in/chandrayaan.php.

• Special classes, workshops, demonstrations, and lectures centred around the Chandrayaan modules and ISRO’s space achievements, such as Aditya and advancements in Space Technology, may be scheduled in schools on August 22 and 23, 2024.

• The Bharat on the Moon portal, launched last year at, bharatonthemoon.ncert.gov.in/, encourages students to register and engage in various activities available on the platform.

• Schools may consider organizing quizzes and painting competitions and inviting distinguished personalities to inspire students on the theme of Space.

India's Moon Mission: Chandrayaan-3

Chandrayaan means 'moon vehicle' in Sanskrit. So, Chandrayaan-3 is India's third moon mission. It's a special spaceship with a lander (like a big, sturdy robot) and a rover (like a smaller, exploring robot).

The lander's job was to safely touch down on the Moon. This was very tricky because the Moon's surface is bumpy and there's no air to slow down the spaceship! But our Indian scientists were super smart and made it happen!

Once the lander touched down, the rover came out to explore. It took pictures, studied the moon rocks, and looked for water. This helps us learn more about the Moon and maybe even find clues about how our Earth was formed.

So, Chandrayaan-3 is not just a spaceship; it's a big step for India in space exploration. It shows the world that we can do amazing things with science and technology!

India's Space Adventure

India's journey into space has been one of remarkable achievements and constant exploration. Let's take a look at some of its key milestones:

Early Beginnings

• Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS): Established in 1963, this was India's first step into space exploration. It was used for studying the upper atmosphere. It is situated near the Earth's magnetic equator, ideal for studying the upper atmosphere and ionosphere

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): Formed in 1969, ISRO became the driving force behind India's space program. It is India's national space agency responsible for the country's space program. It has been a pioneer in space exploration and technology, with numerous achievements to its credit

Satellite Launches and Applications

• Aryabhata: India's first satellite, launched in 1975, marked the beginning of India's satellite era. Aryabhata was India's first satellite, named after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata. It was launched on April 19, 1975, from Kapustin Yar, a Soviet rocket launch and development site in Astrakhan Oblast, using a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle. It was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and launched by the Soviet Union as part of the Soviet Interkosmos program.

• INSAT series: INSAT stands for Indian National Satellite System. It is a series of multipurpose geostationary satellites launched by ISRO to cater to the diverse needs of India. These satellites have played a crucial role in telecommunications, broadcasting, and weather forecasting. They provide extensive coverage over India and the Indian Ocean region. They are used for TV broadcasting, telephony, data transmission, weather forecasting, disaster management, and more

• Remote Sensing satellites: Remote sensing satellites are spacecraft equipped with sensors to detect and monitor the physical characteristics of an area from a distance. They orbit the Earth, capturing data about the planet's surface, atmosphere, and oceans. These satellites have been instrumental in monitoring agriculture, disaster management, and environmental studies.

• Navigation satellites: The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), now renamed NAVIC, provides accurate positioning information.

Lunar and Planetary Exploration

• Chandrayaan-1: India's first lunar mission, launched in 2008, made significant discoveries, including the presence of water on the Moon.

• Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission): India became the first Asian country to reach Mars orbit in its first attempt with this mission in 2013.

• Chandrayaan-2: Launched in 2019, it aimed for a soft landing on the Moon but faced challenges. However, the orbiter continues to send valuable data.

• Chandrayaan-3: India made history in 2023 by successfully landing on the Moon's south pole with Chandrayaan-3.

Future Missions

India's space program is ambitious and continues to grow. Upcoming missions include:

• Gaganyaan: India's first human spaceflight mission.

• Aditya-L1: A mission to study the Sun.

• Lunar Polar Exploration Mission: A follow-up to Chandrayaan-3.