PM Modi Credits New Zealand’s Space Sector for Contribution to Chandrayaan-3 Success

Auckland, July 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday acknowledged New Zealand’s contribution to India’s landmark Chandrayaan-3 mission, saying the country’s space sector played an important role in the success of the historic lunar expedition. Addressing the Indian diaspora during the ‘Kia Ora Modi’ event in Auckland, he described space cooperation as a key pillar of the growing partnership between the two nations.

Recalling the celebrations that followed Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing on the Moon’s south pole in August 2023, PM Modi said the achievement was not only a proud moment for India but also for the Indian community in New Zealand.

“When India’s Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon’s South Pole, the whole of New Zealand was celebrating. It was a proud moment for all of us. But let me tell you one more reason to feel proud. New Zealand’s technology also contributed to this remarkable success,” the Prime Minister said.

Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chandrayaan-3 achieved a historic soft landing near the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023. The mission made India the fourth country in the world to successfully land on the Moon and the first nation to reach the challenging southern polar region, marking a major milestone in global space exploration.

Highlighting the growing strategic partnership between India and New Zealand, PM Modi said the space sector demonstrates how the strengths of both countries can complement each other and create new opportunities for innovation, technology and economic growth.

He noted that New Zealand-based space companies have collaborated with India on several occasions and expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation in the space sector would continue to expand in the coming years.

“New Zealand’s space companies have worked with us on several occasions, and we are committed to taking this cooperation to even greater heights,” he said.

The Prime Minister also pointed to India’s rapidly expanding space economy, which is expected to witness significant growth over the next decade. Valued at around $8-9 billion currently, India’s space economy is projected to grow to nearly $40-45 billion, driven by policy reforms, increased private sector participation and a thriving innovation ecosystem.

He said India’s achievements in space exploration reflect the country’s broader technological transformation, where scientific advancement has become an integral part of national development. Along with Chandrayaan-3, India’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission has further strengthened its position among the world’s leading space-faring nations.

PM Modi added that India has successfully integrated space-based technologies into infrastructure planning, project monitoring, disaster management and public service delivery, demonstrating how innovation can directly improve governance and the lives of citizens.