Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh informs that the 2^nd Phase of Chandrayaan-3 will begin a few hours from now, when dawn breaks on the Moon after a gap of 14 days.

Replying to over Eight Hour Debate in the Lok Sabha, on the subject of “Success of Chandrayaan-3 and other achievements of our Nation in the Space Sector”, Dr Jitendra Singh said, ISRO is in the process of trying to reestablish communication with Chandrayaan-3's solar-powered lander Vikram and rover Pragyan, to revive them so that they can continue with scientific experiments.

Dr Jitendra Singh emphatically asserted that India will become the first country in the world to start the 2^nd phase of Lunar Mission after activation of communication circuit.

It may be recalled that the Lander and the Rover were put into sleep mode earlier this month on September 4 and 2 respectively, ahead of the lunar night of 14 days’ duration. He added that there is huge variation of temperature ranging from minus 150 degrees at night to 100 degrees during day time, and therefore, we all are hoping and praying that solar batteries and solar panels will help the beginning of unprecedented 2^nd Phase of Moon Mission.

Replying to concerns raised by some of the opposition members that the Modi Government has cut the budget for ISRO, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the budget saw a jump of over 142 percent from Rs 5,168 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 12, 543 Crore in the current financial year.

Similarly, the Minister informed that the budget for all Science Ministries and Departments was increased from 21, 025 Crore in 2013-14 to Rs 57, 303 Crore in 2022-23, which is a jump of over 172 percent.

Dr Jitendra Singh also informed that a new Space Launch Station will soon be inaugurated in Thoothukkudi in Tamil Nadu. He said, 90 percent of the land acquisition work is over and appealed to Tamil Nadu Government to complete the unfinished work.

Earlier, yesterday, in the debate in the Rajya Sabha Dr Jitendra Singh said, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi enabled the Chandrayaan-3 Mission with his foresight and increased allocation for Space Research.

The Minister said PM Modi hiked the Space budget manifold and opened up the Space sector in 2020 with the result that the number of Space StartUps have gone up from just 4 in 2014 to 150 now. He said, India’s quantum leap in the Space sector has only been possible after Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi took the courageous decision to “unlock” this sector from the “veil of secrecy”.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, out of the 424 foreign satellites launched by ISRO since 1990s, more than 90% that is 389 were launched in the last nine years.

“We have so far earned 174 Million US Dollars from the launching of the foreign satellites; out of these $174 million, as much as $157 million have been earned only in the last nine years… Out of the European satellites launched so far in the last 30 years or more than that, the total revenue generated is 256 million Euros, out of which Euro 223 million, almost 90%, earned in the last nine years, which means the scale has gone up, the speed has gone up and therefore there is a huge jump that has happened,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said India’s Space economy today stands at about $8 billion, but it is projected to reach $40 billion by 2040, and according to the ADL (Arthur D Little) Report, we could have the potential of $100 Billion by 2040.

He said, India’s space missions are designed to be cost effective. The Minister said the failed Russian moon mission cost Rs.16, 000 crores, while our Chandrayaan-3 mission cost just around Rs.600 crores. We have learnt to compensate for cost through our skills, he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, Members of Parliament should rise above parochial thoughts and reflections, as Centre is not imposing Hindi on any State. He also said that the success of Chandrayaan-3 is the collective efforts of scientists from all Sates and particularly non-IIT Engineers FROM Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, ISRO is the best bouquet of India’s Composite Culture, as the Trio, who laid the foundation of India’s Space Programme came from various backgrounds and different States like Vikram Sarabhai was from Gujarat, Satish Dhawan was a Punjabi from Jammu and Kashmir and A.P.J.Abdul Kalam from Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu.

The Minister said, we all should salute to our scientists, particularly the women scientists, who played a stellar role in the success of Chandrayaan-3. He said, we all should contribute to make India the pre-eminent power not only in the Space Sector, but in all spheres in the Amrit Kaal to achieve the dream of PM Modi to make India a Developed Nation in 2047, when we celebrate the 100 year of India’s Independence.

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