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. 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.
