Synopsis
Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov commended the USSR and Russia's influential contributions to the Indian space programme during Cosmonautics Day, commemorating key figures in Russian cosmonautics and celebrating international cooperation in space exploration.Key Takeaways
- Denis Alipov highlighted Russia's role in India's space development.
- The event marked Cosmonautics Day with a plaque unveiling.
- Rakesh Sharma's historic spaceflight was acknowledged.
- International cooperation in space is vital.
- Upcoming anniversaries in space exploration were mentioned.
New Delhi, April 12 (NationPress) Denis Alipov, the Russian Ambassador to India, emphasized the pioneering role of the USSR and Russia in space exploration during a ceremony marking Cosmonautics Day. He acknowledged the substantial influence Russia had on the evolution of the Indian space programme.
Alipov participated in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the Russian House in New Delhi, honoring the founders of Russian cosmonautics: theoretical scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, rocket engineer and spacecraft designer Sergei Korolev, and the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
In his speech, Alipov stressed that the accomplishments of Soviet and Russian scientists and cosmonauts not only solidified the dominance of the USSR and Russia in space ventures but also significantly contributed to the advancement of the Indian space programme. He specifically referenced the historic flight of the first Indian cosmonaut, Rakesh Sharma, aboard a Soviet spacecraft in 1984, as well as the extensive collaborative projects between the two nations in space research.
Other notable speakers at the event included Elena Remizova, head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Representative Office in India, cosmonaut and Hero of the Russian Federation Denis Matveev, and Rajeev Kumar Jaiswal, Officer on Special Duty, Department of Space at the Indian Space Research Organisation.
The programme featured a screening of the Russian film Challenge—the first film ever shot in space—and an interactive discussion where Matveev shared insights about the work of ISS expedition participants under zero-gravity conditions, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in space exploration.
April 12 is recognized as the International Day of Human Space Flight, established by a United Nations resolution.
On this day in 1961, Yuri Gagarin made history as the first human to journey into outer space aboard the Vostok spacecraft, marking a significant milestone in humanity's space exploration journey.
In 2025, Russia will commemorate the anniversaries of two significant milestones in space exploration history. Sixty years ago, on March 18, 1965, cosmonaut Alexei Arkhipovich Leonov became the first person to perform a spacewalk.
Additionally, on June 2, Russia, Kazakhstan, and the global community will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a monumental achievement of the Soviet Union that remains a symbol of scientific and technological prowess as well as friendship and collaboration.
