National Space Day 2026: From bicycles to global space leadership, ISRO chief recalls India's journey

India marked the third National Space Day on Sunday, with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr V Narayanan recalling the agency's humble beginnings while highlighting the country's current standing among the world's leading spacefaring nations.

Speaking at the national event held at the Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad, Narayanan said ISRO once transported rocket parts on bicycles in the absence of other vehicles. He said the space programme has since progressed to a position where India ranks number one in nine areas, an achievement he attributed to the collective effort of the Indian space community, academia and industrial partners.

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Narayanan also spoke about the Chandrayaan-3 mission, whose Vikram lander achieved a soft landing near the Moon's south pole on 23 August 2023, the event being commemorated by National Space Day. He said the mission's significance extended beyond the landing itself, with scientific data collected during the mission subsequently shared with the global scientific community.

The ISRO chief further said Chandrayaan-3 inspired 140 crore Indians worldwide, describing it as one of the mission's major achievements under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This year's celebration is the third since the Union Government designated 23 August as National Space Day in 2023 to mark the Chandrayaan-3 landing at Shiv Shakti Point on the lunar south pole. The day recognises the contributions of ISRO's engineers, researchers and scientists, and comes as the agency prepares for upcoming missions including Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan-4.

Theme for 2026

This year's celebrations are built around the theme "Towards Viksit Bharat: Innovating, Collaborating and Aspiring to Global Space Leadership." The theme is aimed at encouraging young innovators, technology startups and academic institutions to develop indigenous solutions to global space challenges.

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The national event at SAC Ahmedabad included an exhibition showcasing ISRO's recent achievements and Department of Space (DoS)/ISRO initiatives supporting Indian industry and space startups, along with talks and panel discussions featuring experts from DoS/ISRO, industry, academia and the startup ecosystem.