Russian cosmonauts on ISS send Independence Day wishes to India

Russian cosmonauts currently stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have issued a video message to celebrate India’s upcoming 80th Independence Day. Holding the Indian tricolour, the crew highlighted the long-standing bilateral partnership in space exploration between Russia and India.

The cosmonauts recalled historical milestones of cooperation, including the 1975 launch of India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, and the 1984 flight of Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space. They also noted the current phase of collaboration involving India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, noting that Indian astronauts have received training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

The message also commemorated the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight, the first human journey into space. The crew emphasized the enduring friendship between the two nations, citing Gagarin’s 1961 visit to India as an early symbol of these ties.