On 23 August, 2023, a successful soft landing of the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the lunar surface was performed. This is a historic moment for science in India, and marks the start of a new era of Indian space exploration. India is now part of the elite club of only four countries to have successfully performed a soft landing on the moon - alongside US, Russia and China. It is also the first country to have successfully performed a soft landing near the Lunar South Pole.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was one of the most important personalities in India’s space history, along with the likes of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Dr. Dhawan.

His contributions towards the nations have enabled us to achieve self-sufficiency in the field of space technologies. He was the Project Director of India’s first Indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), which was used to deploy India’s first satellite, Rohini. He also developed indigenous guided missiles at DRDO. 

The successful soft landing of Vikram on the lunar surface is a watershed moment for Indian space exploration. The point at which the Chandrayaan landed on the moon should be renamed in honour of one of India’s greatest scientific minds, and not political personalities, such as how the place where the Moon Impact Probe of Chandrayaan - 1 crashed on the Moon in 2008 was renamed “Jawahar Sthal” after Jawaharlal Nehru. There cannot be a bigger personality to honour than APJ Abdul Kalam. Renaming the point of landing to “Kalam Point” shall immortalise his contributions to the nation, and its journey towards becoming a galaxial superpower.