National Space Day: From Lunar Dreams to Clean-Air Realities

On August 23rd, India celebrated National Space Day, marking the historic moment when Chandrayaan-3 successfully soft-landed on the Moon’s south pole. It was more than just a technical triumph; it was a moment of pride and possibility for a nation steadily advancing towards its vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The government noted how this achievement reflected India’s ability to blend traditional knowledge with modern innovation, showing the world that Indian science and technology are not just catching up but leading in crucial frontiers of exploration.

But space is not only about reaching distant planets. It also holds a mirror to Earth itself. The very satellites that map the Moon or Mars are the ones that silently watch over our cities, rivers, forests, and skies. And sometimes, what they reveal is not as celebratory as a successful space mission.

At the inaugural event in 2025, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh wove together India’s past and future: “Reflecting on India’s space heritage, this year’s theme : ‘Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities’ captures the unique strength of combining traditional knowledge with modern innovation.” He also shared a striking vision: “an Indian will announce ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ from the surface of the Moon in 2040,” a moment that “will send a message around the universe that India has arrived.

The celebration is more than a cosmic achievement; it’s a narrative—a story that starts with ancestors mapping stars and travels through Chandrayaan to human spaceflight, while igniting curiosity across generations.

Yet space offers more than inspiration—it offers perspective. Look back at Earth, and we see pollution in stark relief. Satellites can serve as a medium to trace gaseous pollutants and particulate matter such as PM2.5- a crucial marker of air quality. While more efforts are underway to understand Aerosol Optical Depths (AODs) for estimating PM2.5, these insights continue to reveal both vital and sometimes alarming stories about our environment.

1. In Delhi, November 2024’s average PM2.5 hovered around 249 µg/m³, and in winter, daily peaks often exceed 450 µg/m³—levels dangerously above health guidelines.

2. In Dublin (Region near water body), earlier studies suggested relatively low averages (~9 µg/m³ annually). But a 2024 University College Dublin study paints a more complex picture: certain urban hotspots recorded PM2.5 spikes as high as 356.4 µg/m³ . While these are local extremes rather than citywide averages, they reveal a hidden challenge even in cities often thought of as “clean.”

Now, picture this difference from space. The dense haze that routinely blankets Delhi in winter compared to the relatively clear skies over Dublin is not just a statistic—it is a stark image of two realities. While India is scripting a story of innovation and progress through its space program, the same satellites remind us of the urgent need for innovation on Earth: clean technologies, sustainable transport, and policies that make breathable air a fundamental right.

National Space Day, therefore, is not only about celebrating rockets and rovers. It is about recognizing that space and Earth are deeply connected. Every breakthrough in space science inspires solutions for the ground beneath our feet. For India, this dual role—reaching for the stars while healing our skies—is at the heart of building a truly Viksit Bharat.

References:

• All India Radio News. (2024, August 23). National Space Day being celebrated across the country today. All India Radio News.

• Press Information Bureau. (2024, August 23). Reflecting on India’s space heritage and future innovation. Government of India.

• IQAir. (2023). World’s air quality data: Delhi PM2.5 statistics. IQAir. https://www.iqair.com/world-air-quality

• University College Dublin. (2024). Dublin PM2.5 hotspot data: Spikes up to 356.4 µg/m³ [Research study].

• Crilley, L. R., Shaw, M., Lee, J. D., Young, S., Sahu, R., & Pope, F. D. (2019). Quantifying urban PM2.5 contributions from traffic and domestic solid fuel burning in a developing world city. Atmospheric Environment, 200, 117–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.04.012

• Central Pollution Control Board. (n.d.). Continuous ambient air quality monitoring station (CAAQMS) data. Government of India. https://cpcb.nic.in