New Delhi: In a proud moment for India’s space program, Dr. S Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was awarded the prestigious World Space Award by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in Milan on Monday. This recognition comes in celebration of the remarkable success of Chandrayaan-3, ISRO’s historic mission that achieved a soft landing near the Moon’s South Pole.
The Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO took to social media to announce the news, stating: “ISRO is honored to announce that Dr. S. Somanath, Secretary DOS and Chairman ISRO, has received the prestigious IAF World Space Award for Chandrayaan-3’s remarkable achievement… This recognition celebrates India’s contributions to space exploration.”
According to the IAF, Chandrayaan-3 exemplifies the synergy of scientific curiosity and cost-effective engineering, embodying India’s commitment to advancing space exploration. “Rapidly unveiling previously undiscovered facets of the Moon’s composition and geology, the mission stands as a global testament to innovation. Achieving a historic milestone, Chandrayaan-3 becomes the first to touch down near the lunar South Pole, showcasing both aspiration and technological prowess on an international scale,” the IAF said in a statement.
Chandrayaan-3, launched on July 6, 2023 from Sriharikota, entered the annals of space exploration history with its successful soft landing on August 23, 2023. The mission not only demonstrated India’s advanced space technology but also set new benchmarks in lunar exploration, particularly in the unexplored region of the Moon’s South Pole.