As India celebrates 80 years of Independence, a special message has arrived from a place few humans have ever called home. Orbiting 408 kilometres above Earth aboard the International Space Station, three Russian cosmonauts unfurled the Indian flag and extended warm wishes to the people of India, underlining a friendship that has endured on Earth and flourished in space.
Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina and Andrey Fedyaev recorded a heartfelt video message to mark India’s Independence Day, recalling the long and remarkable history of cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow.
Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina and Andrey Fedyaev recorded a heartfelt video message to mark India’s Independence Day, recalling the long and remarkable history of cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow. Their tribute was more than a ceremonial greeting. It was a reminder of a partnership that has helped shape India’s journey into space, from its earliest satellite launches to its upcoming human spaceflight mission. Standing inside the orbiting laboratory, with the Indian flag proudly displayed, the cosmonauts congratulated India on reaching the milestone of eight decades of freedom and self-reliance. They noted that India had broken free from colonial rule and embarked on a path of progress and prosperity. The message also connected two historic anniversaries. The cosmonauts pointed out that this period also marks the 65th anniversary of the pioneering human spaceflight by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, whose achievement opened the door to human exploration of space. Gagarin himself shares a special connection with India. More than six decades later, those words were echoed in spirit from orbit by a new generation of Russian space travellers. The training covered a wide range of activities, including spacecraft systems, survival exercises, emergency procedures and physical conditioning. The experience helped prepare the future Indian astronauts for the challenges of human spaceflight while further strengthening institutional ties between the Indian Space Research Organisation and Russia’s space establishment. The Russian cosmonauts also referred to a recent joint competition organised by Roscosmos, a Russian foundation and the Indian Space Research Organisation. The competition celebrated the spirit of India-Russia cooperation in space and encouraged young minds to imagine the future of exploration.
Because it was home to true friends, during his visit to India in November 1961, he famously remarked that India looked beautiful from above, but was even more beautiful on Earth.
