Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Russian cosmonauts greet India's Independence Day from space station
Some Russian astronauts, called cosmonauts, live on the International Space Station, a big laboratory that flies high above Earth.
They made a video to say 'Happy Independence Day' to the people of India.
India is getting ready to celebrate its 80th birthday as an independent country on August 15.
In the video, the cosmonauts held the Indian flag, which is called the tricolour.
They talked about how Russia and India are good friends and work together in space.
Long ago, in 1961, a famous cosmonaut named Yuri Gagarin became the first person to travel into space.
He visited India later that year and said India was beautiful and full of true friends.
In 1984, an Indian astronaut named Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to go to space.
Now, Indian astronauts called Gaganyatris are training in Russia for a new mission called Gaganyaan.
The cosmonauts wished India peace and prosperity and hoped their friendship would grow even stronger.
Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station sent Independence Day greetings to India in a video message on Monday.
India is set to celebrate its 80th Independence Day on 15 August.
The crew held the Indian tricolour alongside three posters showcasing India-Russia space cooperation.
Cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov noted that 2026 marks 65 years since Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space.
Cosmonaut Anna Kikina recalled Gagarin's words that India was beautiful because it is home to 'true friends.'
- Who
- Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina and Andrey Fedyaev aboard the International Space Station
- What
- Sent a video message holding the Indian tricolour to extend Independence Day greetings to India
- When
- Monday, ahead of India's 80th Independence Day on 15 August
- Where
- International Space Station, greeting India (New Delhi)
- Why
- To mark India's Independence Day and celebrate the long-standing India-Russia space cooperation
- Occasion
- India's 80th Independence Day (15 August)
- Messengers
- Cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina and Andrey Fedyaev
- Location
- International Space Station
- Milestone
- 65 years since Yuri Gagarin's first human spaceflight (2026)
- First Indian in space
- Rakesh Sharma, 1984, aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11
- Start of India-Russia space cooperation
- 1975, launch of India's first satellite, Aryabhata
- Training
- Indian Gaganyatris trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia
- Joint competition
- Held by Roscosmos, Rossotrudnichestvo and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)