‘STATION SHIV SHAKTI’ CHANDRAYAAN-3 LANDING SITE

1. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has officially approved the name 'Station Shiv Shakti' for the landing site of Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander on the Moon.
2. On 26 August 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the site where the Chandrayaan-3's moon lander had landed will be known as 'Shiv Shakti'.

1. Chandrayaan-3 is India's third lunar exploration mission after Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2. The mission successfully made a soft landing on the lunar surface, marking an important milestone in India's space exploration journey.

Etymology and Significance:

1. The name 'Station Shiv Shakti' is derived from Indian mythology and represents the duality of nature. 'Shiva' symbolizes resolution for humanity's welfare, while 'Shakti' symbolizes the power to fulfill those resolutions.
2. Prime Minister Modi emphasized the significance of these names in connecting India from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari.

Planetary Nomenclature:

1. Planetary nomenclature, similar to terrestrial nomenclature, identifies distinctive features of planets and satellites.
2. The IAU's Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature contains detailed information about all IAU-approved names of topographic and albedo features on planets and satellites since the organization's founding in 1919.

Previous Lunar Missions and Naming:

1. Before Chandrayaan-3, the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) of India's Chandrayaan-1 mission impacted the Moon's surface on November 14, 2008. The impact site was named 'Jawahar Point' or 'Jawahar Sthal' in honor of Jawaharlal Nehru Prime minister of India.
2. During the announcement of Chandrayaan-3 landing, Prime Minister Modi also revealed that the spot where Chandrayaan-2 left its footprints will be called 'Tiranga', meaning the Indian tricolor flag.

Conclusion:

The naming of 'Station Shiv Shakti' as the landing site of Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander is a tribute to India's commitment to space exploration and its cultural heritage. This achievement further strengthens India's position as a leading nation in the global space community.