Rakesh Sharma’s Historic Spaceflight
The Soyuz T-11 mission, which lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on April 2, 1984, carried Rakesh Sharma as the first Indian astronaut into space. Cosmonauts Yuri Malyshev, Rakesh Sharma, and Gennady Strekalov – all three were awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Ashok Chakra on return to Earth.
India’s Achievements in Space Exploration
Marking the 40th anniversary of Rakesh Sharma’s historic spaceflight, Russian Deputy Chief of the Mission in Delhi, Roman Babushkin, praised India’s remarkable achievements in space exploration. He hailed India as a “space superpower” due to its successful endeavors in space, including the recent Chandrayaan 3 mission.
- India’s Robust National Space Programme
- Collaboration Between Russia and India
- Support for the Gaganyaan Mission
Russia-India Space Collaboration
Babushkin highlighted the deep involvement of Russia and India in the Gaganyaan mission. He mentioned the collaboration between Roscosmos and ISRO in training astronauts, developing a manned spacecraft, and providing essential support systems.
- Training of Astronauts
- Supply of Equipment
- Cooperation on Technical Aspects
Future Space Cooperation
Both countries are exploring opportunities to expand space cooperation with the participation of the private sector and start-ups. The BRICS grouping aims to establish an agreement on a remote satellite constellation.
Message from Rakesh Sharma
Rakesh Sharma expressed gratitude for the fruitful cooperation with Russia in the space sector. He noted that astronauts designated for the Gaganyaan mission have received training in Russia, emphasizing the strong collaboration between the two nations.
Commemoration Event
To honor Sharma’s historic spaceflight, the Russian Embassy in India, along with the Russian House in New Delhi and the TASS news agency, organized a photo exhibition showcasing archival materials documenting Sharma’s journey as an astronaut.
