National Space Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
Government of India Department of Space Notification F. No. DS_5-18013/8/2023-V, dated 13 October 2023, declares August 23 every year as National Space Day to commemorate the Chandrayaan-3 milestone; PIB documents the first celebration on August 23, 2024.
About National Space Day
National Space Day is an Indian national observance held on August 23 each year.
A Department of Space notification published in the Gazette of India on October 13, 2023 declares August 23 every year as National Space Day, and official material identifies August 23, 2024 as the first celebration.
Why National Space Day matters
The observance commemorates the August 23, 2023 Chandrayaan-3 lunar-landing milestone and is used for public engagement with India’s space activities and STEM.
The annual observance and the underlying mission event are distinct: the landing happened in 2023, while the first National Space Day celebration took place in 2024.
History of National Space Day
Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander successfully landed on the lunar surface on August 23, 2023, with the Pragyan rover deployed afterward.
The Department of Space notification F. No. DS_5-18013/8/2023-V, dated October 13, 2023, declared August 23 of every year as National Space Day.
Official Government of India material describes August 23, 2024 as the first-ever National Space Day celebration.
ISRO continued the annual observance in later years, including the third National Space Day in 2026.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Government of India / Department of Space
The Gazette notification records the Government of India declaration through the Department of Space; official 2024 material also notes the public announcement preceding the notification.
Government of India, Department of Space
Department of Space Notification F. No. DS_5-18013/8/2023-V, Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part I—Section 1
First documented observance
Press Information Bureau material explicitly describes the August 23, 2024 event as India’s first-ever National Space Day.
Department of Space / Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Official Department of Space/ISRO materials document recurring National Space Day programming, including the 2026 third edition.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
2 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe National Space Day
Explore official ISRO mission pages or public science resources about Chandrayaan-3.
Use the day for age-appropriate astronomy, engineering or space-science learning without overstating what a single mission proves.
If doing a model-rocket, electronics or laboratory activity, follow local rules, manufacturer instructions and appropriate adult/specialist supervision.
Separate documented mission results from speculation, political claims or unsupported comparisons with other countries’ programs.
Check current official event information before traveling to a National Space Day program or relying on a year-specific schedule.
National Space Day Facts
National Space Day in India is observed on August 23 every year.
The Government of India declaration was issued by the Department of Space on October 13, 2023.
The date commemorates the Chandrayaan-3 Vikram landing and Pragyan rover deployment milestone of August 23, 2023.
The first National Space Day celebration was held on August 23, 2024.
The Gazette notification establishes a national observance; the reviewed evidence does not characterize it as a statutory nationwide public holiday with mandatory closures.
National Space Day Messages
Happy National Space Day—August 23 is a day to explore India’s space journey and the science behind it.
Celebrating National Space Day with evidence-based science and curiosity about exploration.
Here’s to the students, researchers, engineers and communities who keep asking what comes next in space.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Gazette of India — Department of Space Notification F. No. DS_5-18013/8/2023-V (opens in a new tab)
Government Gazette Notification
Press Information Bureau — India Marks First-Ever National Space Day (opens in a new tab)
Government First Observance Release
ISRO — National Space Day 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Government Space Observance
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Space Day?
23 August each year The documented recurrence rule is: 23 August.
Does National Space Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Space Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: India. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Space Day?
The reviewed sources identify Government of India, Department of Space as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Government of India / Department of Space. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Department of Space / Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Is National Space Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to India. Its fuller verified scope is: India.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-24.
When is India’s National Space Day?
August 23 every year.
What formally established the date?
Department of Space notification F. No. DS_5-18013/8/2023-V, dated October 13, 2023 and published in the Gazette of India, declares August 23 every year as National Space Day.
What does August 23 commemorate?
It commemorates the Chandrayaan-3 milestone of August 23, 2023, when the Vikram lander landed on the Moon and the Pragyan rover was deployed.
When was the first National Space Day celebrated?
Official Government of India material identifies August 23, 2024 as the first-ever celebration.
Is National Space Day a statutory public holiday?
The reviewed notification establishes the observance, but this project does not classify it as a statutory nationwide public holiday or assume office, bank or school closures.
Other observances on August 23
These observances are also listed on August 23, 2027.
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