New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) It is important to apprise children about the achievements made by India in space exploration and science, said IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on National Space Day on Saturday.

Shukla, who in June became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), said this at the inauguration of the Aryabhatta Gallery at the Nehru Planetarium, on the occasion of National Space Day.

“I think it is very important to tell children what we have done in the past and what we are going to do in the future. These are small things that make children happy, and they understand how complex the subject of space exploration is,” Shukla said, while speaking to the media.

Citing the ancient astronomical text Surya Siddhanta, he said that India has a rich past in astronomy and science.

“In the origin of Surya Siddhanta, I think in 500 B.C., we were talking about the size of planets, the distance of the moon, and many accurate calculations were made at that time,” Shukla said.

Further, looking at the impending Gaganyaan mission, Indian space station, and Moon landing, he said: “I think if you are standing in India today, you can see a rich cultural past, which was very expansive with knowledge, and you can see a very bright future towards which we are going”.

Calling it a “responsibility to tell this to our children”, he said that these achievements can excite the children and enable them to “find their own way”.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh shared that “the success of the Chandrayaan 3 mission sent a message to the entire world that India has arrived”.

“Earlier, we used to be behind 10-15 years ago, but after Chandrayaan 3, the expectations of the whole world from us have increased, and a self-confidence has been awakened within us,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, marking a major leap in its space programme, ISRO unveiled the model of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) — the Indian Space Station — which is expected to launch its first module by 2028. The orbital lab, expected to become operational by 2035, will enable indigenous research, including microgravity studies.

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan also announced the Chandrayaan-4 and Venus Orbiter Mission.

“We are going to have a space station called BAS (Bharatiya Antriksh Station) by 2035, and the first module will be lifted off by 2028. By 2040, India will land on the Moon and bring back the astronauts safely,” he said.

–IANS

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