ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath has been honored with the International Astronautical Federation’s (IAF) World Space Award for the achievements of India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission. The award was presented during the 75th International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy, on October 14, 2024, recognizing India’s growing role in global space exploration.
ISRO shared the news in a post on X, stating that the award “celebrates India’s contributions to space exploration” while noting that celebrations were underway in Milan following the announcement.
Chandrayaan-3, launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, achieved a historic soft landing on the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023. With that milestone, India became the first nation to reach the lunar south pole and the fourth country in the world to achieve a controlled landing on the Moon.
The mission was developed after Chandrayaan-2’s lander lost contact and crashed in 2019. Learning from that setback, ISRO refined its approach and succeeded with Chandrayaan-3, marking one of the most celebrated achievements in India’s space history.
The government has since cleared funding for Chandrayaan-4, approving a budget of ₹2,104.06 crore. The follow-up mission is expected to build on Chandrayaan-3’s success and continue India’s lunar exploration program.
The recognition at Milan highlights ISRO’s growing presence in the international space community, as it strengthens partnerships with agencies including NASA and the European Space Agency. The award adds to India’s reputation as a rising space power and underlines its ambition to play a leading role in future global missions.