Kathmandu— Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) sent greetings to the people of India as the nation prepares to celebrate its 80th Independence Day. The message, delivered via video while holding the Indian tricolour, emphasized the long-standing partnership between Russia and India in space exploration, a collaboration that dates back to 1975 with the launch of India’s first satellite. Cosmonauts linked the celebration to milestones in human spaceflight, including the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic journey.

Historical Ties in Space Exploration

The cosmonauts highlighted the deep roots of cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi, noting that space exploration has been a central pillar of their bilateral ties. Cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov extended congratulations and wished for peace and prosperity for India, while referencing the historical significance of Yuri Gagarin’s 1961 visit to India following his pioneering spaceflight. He recalled Gagarin's praise for the country, stating it was beautiful from space but even more so on Earth as the home of “true friends.”

Early Milestones in Collaboration

The partnership between India and Russia began in 1975 with the Soviet launch of Aryabhata, India’s first satellite. This collaboration continued in 1984 when Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to travel to space aboard a Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft—an achievement that significantly strengthened the relationship. The cosmonauts acknowledged these early successes as foundational moments for future joint endeavors.

Future Cooperation with Gaganyaan

Cosmonaut Anna Kikina pointed to a new phase in the partnership, focusing on India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. She noted that Indian astronauts, referred to as Gaganyatris, have been receiving training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia in preparation for India's first crewed mission. A joint competition organized by Roscosmos, its office in India and ISRO was also highlighted, with winning entries displayed alongside the Independence Day message.

The cosmonauts concluded their message with a toast to India-Russia friendship, reaffirming the continued commitment to space cooperation between the two nations.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.