Every year on July 20, people around the world observe International Moon Day, commemorating the historic event of humans landing on the moon during the Apollo 11 lunar mission.
On this significant day, we celebrate the first steps taken by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface, who named the landing site "Tranquility Base."
Why is International Moon Day celebrated?
As per the official website, the Moon Village Association submitted an application during the UN-COPUOS 64th Session, requesting the designation of July 20 as International Moon Day.
This date holds significance as it marks the anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon by the United States' Apollo 11 mission in 1969. The application was successful, and on December 9, 2021, the UN General Assembly officially approved the proclamation, recognizing July 20 as International Moon Day.
In its resolution 76/76 on "International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space" in 2021, the UN General Assembly acknowledged International Moon Day as a United Nations-approved international holiday.
This special day serves to celebrate the achievements of all nations in lunar exploration and aims to raise public awareness about environmentally friendly practices in lunar exploration and utilization.
International Moon Day 2023: Theme
This year commemorates the 54th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Mission, and on this occasion, International Moon Day will be celebrated under the theme of "Lunar Exploration Coordination & Sustainability." The focus of this theme is to raise awareness among the general public about the critical importance of conducting lunar exploration in a sustainable manner.
International Moon Day 2023: Significance
Thanks to the collaboration with UNOOSA, International Moon Day has now become an annual global celebration. The Moon Village Association views this day as an excellent opportunity to educate and raise awareness worldwide about humanity's current situation and future prospects related to sustainable moon exploration and utilization. It also emphasizes the importance of collective efforts in regulating activities on and around the Moon.
International Moon Day holds significance for its historical value and is a reminder that space exploration remains an ongoing endeavour with remarkable technological advancements in the past 50 years. These advancements have enabled us to venture deeper into space than ever before.
This global celebration serves as a tribute to past achievements while also acting as a catalyst for future Moon exploration missions with ambitious goals. With the endorsement of the UN, this event aims to foster greater global cooperation among stakeholders and encourage increased engagement of the next generation in realizing these objectives.
About Apollo 11 Mission
The Apollo 11 mission, launched on July 16, 1969, marked a historic moment in NASA's spaceflight history as it achieved the first manned moon landing. Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins embarked on this momentous journey. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the lunar surface in the Lunar Module "Eagle." Armstrong's iconic words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," resonated across the globe as he became the first human to set foot on the moon. They conducted experiments and gathered samples during their approximately 2.5-hour stay on the lunar surface. The safe return of Apollo 11 to Earth on July 24, 1969, marked a significant milestone in space exploration and a monumental achievement for humanity.
This year's Moon Day holds particular significance for India due to the successful launch of the Chandrayaan 3 mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Chandrayaan-3 has taken a circular trajectory to the moon to enhance its journey. It is expected to achieve a soft landing on the moon's surface on August 23, after its launch on July 14.
If this mission is successful, India will join the ranks of the United States, Russia, and China as the fourth country to successfully land on the Moon. This milestone demonstrates India's progress in space exploration and adds to the significance of this year's International Moon Day celebrations.
