Russia’s Yuri Gagarin welcomed in Indian capital
(MENAFN) A commemorative plaque of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into space, was unveiled at the Russian House in New Delhi on Saturday to celebrate the International Day of Human Space Flight, marked every year on April 12. The plaque depicts Gagarin in his spacesuit, alongside key figures in Soviet space exploration, such as Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Sergei Korolev, the latter considered the founder of the Soviet space program.
Elena Remizova, head of the Russian House in Delhi, noted that while Gagarin received a warm welcome during his 1961 visit to India, this is the first memorial dedicated to him in the capital. Rajeev Kumar Jaiswal, Officer on Special Duty at ISRO, recalled how, in 1961, India had no space program but, thanks to Russia’s long-term support, India later sent its first astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, into space aboard a Soviet mission in 1984.
An exhibition showcasing rare archival photos of Gagarin’s historic mission was also opened at the event. Gagarin’s visit to India, shortly after his spaceflight, had attracted thousands of admirers and was honored with a parade, with then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru hosting him.
Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, praised the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in space exploration and expressed confidence that their collaboration will continue in manned missions and satellite navigation. Alipov also highlighted Russia’s involvement in India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, scheduled for next year.
Four Indian astronauts, trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Moscow, were announced in February as part of India’s Gaganyaan mission. They underwent extensive training, including operating the Soyuz spacecraft and survival training in both winter and sea conditions.
Russian cosmonaut Denis Matveev, present at the ceremony, shared his experience with the Indian astronauts and emphasized the potential for further cooperation between Russia and India, such as the development of a lunar base. The Indian Space Agency (ISRO) continues to conduct crucial tests, including emergency escape system validations, in preparation for its manned mission. Additionally, ISRO’s recent success in in-orbit docking with its SpaDeX satellites is a significant milestone for India’s future space ambitions, including sending an astronaut to the Moon.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
