Hanumanji, not Neil Armstrong, was the first space traveller: BJP MP to students on National Space Day

Shimla: Former government of India Minister and BJP’s Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur sparked amusement during an interaction with students at the PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Una on National Space Day when, in response to a question on the world’s first space traveller, he quipped that it was “Hanumanji” and not Neil Armstrong.

Thakur, however, used the occasion to underline India’s ambitious space goals, stating that the country aims to establish its own space station by 2035 and achieve an Indian-crewed lunar landing by 2040.

He credited Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi’s leadership for India’s strides in the sector, from Chandrayaan-3’s success to the launch of Aditya-L1 and Vikram-S, the country’s first private rocket.

He noted that India’s space economy is projected to grow from USD 8 billion to USD 44 billion in the coming years and stressed the need for training 40–50 astronauts for future missions. “Behind every success is the tireless work of our scientists, supported by a Prime Minister who stands by them in both failures and triumphs,” Thakur said.