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Russian cosmonauts wave Indian flag on ISS for Independence Day
Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station waved the Indian tricolour and extended Independence Day wishes to India on August 15. Cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov, speaking from orbit, invoked Yuri Gagarin's 1961 visit…
The Story in Brief
Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station waved the Indian tricolour and extended Independence Day wishes to India on August 15. Cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov, speaking from orbit, invoked Yuri Gagarin's 1961 visit to India and called the country a 'true friend.' The crew also showcased a joint contest poster from Roscosmos and ISRO. The gesture comes as India prepares for its Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, for which Indian astronauts have trained in Russia. However, bilateral space cooperation has faced delays due to the Ukraine war.
The Indian Opinion
The feel-good video of Russian cosmonauts waving the tricolour from space is nice, but it papers over a frayed partnership. Moscow's Ukraine war has stalled joint projects, and India's pivot to the West on tech is real. One space greeting doesn't erase delayed engine supplies or a shrinking trade basket. The real test: will Russia deliver the cryogenic engine for Gaganyaan on time, or will India lean harder on US firms?
Source: hindustantimes.com
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