In homage to India’s noteworthy accomplishments in its astral endeavors, Roman Babushkin, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Russian Embassy in New Delhi, extolled India’s establishment of a robust national space initiative. India now stands as a preeminent force in the realm of space exploration, esteemed and relied upon as a paramount global collaborator in the realms of space research and satellite deployment.
This commendation coincides with the Russian embassy’s commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the inaugural Indian cosmonaut, Rakesh Sharma’s, interstellar voyage aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11 in 1984.
Babushkin articulated Russia’s longstanding support for India’s astral achievements, harking back to 1975, when the Soviet Union facilitated the launch of Aryabhata, India’s inaugural satellite. This collaborative effort continued with the launch of Bhaskara, India’s second satellite, in 1979.
Emphasizing the collaborative endeavors between India and Russia in the cosmic domain, Babushkin iterated, “Russia remains a stalwart ally of India. The Russian State Corporation ‘Roscosmos’ and ISRO are deeply engaged in supporting India’s Gaganyan mission by imparting astronaut training, aiding in the development of manned spacecraft, and supplying vital life-support and crew-escape systems, among other contributions.”
He further underscored India’s ascent as a space juggernaut, meriting global recognition as a dependable and esteemed partner in the fields of space science and satellite deployment. The triumphant Chandrayaan-3 mission stands as a monumental achievement in this trajectory.
Anticipating the 77th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and India, the diplomat elucidated on the dynamic partnership between the two nations, spanning propulsion engineering, cryogenic engine construction, satellite navigation, and the establishment of ground stations for communication signal reception.
“We are delving into novel avenues, spurred by the prospect of greater involvement from the private sector and burgeoning start-ups,” he added. The Russian envoy highlighted the close coordination between India and Russia in multilateral forums, particularly within the UN and its Outer Space Committee. He also alluded to the significance of April as a month of celebration.
“We engage in comprehensive dialogue to forestall the proliferation of armaments in outer space and champion the Russian proposal for the non-placement of weapons in celestial territories. This endeavor also forms a key aspect of our deliberations within BRICS, inclusive of the accord on remote satellite constellations,” he articulated.
“Our forthcoming celebrations in April encompass the 63rd anniversary of Yury Gagarin’s groundbreaking voyage into space on April 12, alongside the 77th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Russia and India on April 13.
Additionally, the Russian presidency within the expanded BRICS framework warrants acknowledgment. Nonetheless, the overarching theme of space exploration and the historic significance of Rakesh Sharma’s pioneering feat, emblematic of our enduring camaraderie, should serve as an indubitable backdrop for our collaborative endeavors in 2024,” he concluded.
On a recent Wednesday, the Russian news agency TASS, in conjunction with the Russian House in New Delhi and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in India, orchestrated a distinctive photographic exhibition commemorating Rakesh Sharma’s historic odyssey into space.
Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma etched his name in history as the first Indian to voyage beyond Earth’s confines, embarking aboard the Soyuz T-11 on April 3, 1984. This Indian Air Force aviator formed part of a triumvirate that journeyed to the Soviet Salyut-7 space station.
