JNS: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been honored with the prestigious 2024 John L “Jack” Swigert, Jr, Award for space exploration by the US-based Space Foundation.
The award ceremony took place at the Space Foundation’s annual opening ceremony of the Space Symposium in Colorado on April 8. The award was received by the Consul General of India in Houston, DC Manjunath, on behalf of ISRO’s Chandrayaan team, as reported by ANI.
The Space Foundation, established in 1983 as a nonprofit organization, provides information, education, and collaboration opportunities for the global space community.
In a statement, the Space Foundation highlighted ISRO’s achievements, stating, “As the first nation to land on the Moon’s South Pole, Chandrayaan-3, a mission developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation, extends humanity’s space exploration aspirations to new and fertile areas for understanding and cooperation.
Furthermore, the technical and engineering achievements demonstrated by this mission show the world the unquestioned leadership and ingenuity of the people of India in the global space ecosystem.”
Heather Pringle, CEO of the Space Foundation, praised the Chandrayaan-3 team, stating, “The pioneering work of the entire Chandrayaan-3 team has again raised the bar for space exploration, and their remarkable lunar landing is a model to us all. Congratulations and we can’t wait to see what you do next!”
The John L. “Jack” Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration is presented to recognize extraordinary accomplishments by a company, space agency, or consortium of organizations in the field of space exploration and discovery. The award pays tribute to the memory of astronaut John L. “Jack” Swigert Jr., who served on the legendary Apollo 13 lunar mission.
The award ceremony at the Space Symposium is held annually by the Space Foundation to celebrate outstanding achievements in space exploration, echoing the spirit of overcoming challenges and pushing the boundaries of human exploration exemplified by the Apollo 13 mission.
