Russia’s Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, hopes that like numerous previous missions where Indian and Russian scientists have worked together, the two nations continue to engage on many more missions, as he offered Russia’s extensive expertise for the launch of Gaganyaan. File image

2024 marks one of the most crucial years for the Indian Space Research Organization or ISRO, and the country’s ambition for aerospace engineering. This year’s Gaganyaan launch, ISRO’s first launch of a manned mission to space is, perhaps the one mission that every space enthusiast all over the world, is looking forward to.

Russia’s Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, hopes that like numerous previous missions where Indian and Russian scientists have worked together, the two nations continue to engage on many more missions.

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“I am very much hopeful that we will continue to engage with each other on major missions that India is undertaking. I am quite positive that Russia would be prepared to offer its extensive expertise to be utilized in the preparation for the Gaganyaan mission,” said the Ambassador, while speaking to the press at an event in Delhi.

Russia, one of India’s oldest and most dependable allies in aerospace and defence ventures, is playing several crucial roles in the Gaganyaan mission.

Russia’s role in Gaganyaan
Russia is not only responsible for training Indian astronauts but will also be involved in constructing life support systems within the crew capsule and offering support for India’s inaugural human space flight program, valued at $1.4 billion.

India, positioned as the fourth country globally to initiate a human space mission, aspires to dispatch three astronauts aboard the domestically manufactured 3.7-ton crew spacecraft Gaganyaan for a seven-day mission in 2022.

To solidify their collaboration on the Gaganyaan mission, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was executed between ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and ROSCOSMOS (Russian State Corporation for Space Activities) during the 19th Bilateral Summit in 2018. The MoU outlines joint efforts in developing crucial technologies and advanced systems essential for the human space flight mission, encompassing aspects such as radiation shielding, life-support systems, crew module, rendezvous and docking systems, spacesuits, and astronaut training.

Since the signing of the MoU, ISRO and ROSCOSMOS have been actively engaged in identifying key areas of cooperation. According to Glavkosmos, a subsidiary of ROSCOSMOS and a Russian launch service provider, a contract has been established with ISRO to provide consultancy support for the selection of Indian astronauts, assist with their medical examinations, and prepare them through spaceflight-related training.

Furthermore, ISRO has established a Technical Liaison Unit (ITLU) in Moscow, Russia, to facilitate effective technical collaboration and ensure timely interventions with Russian space agencies and industries for the successful implementation of the Gaganyaan project.

Russia and India’s history in space
The Soviet Union, later Russia, played a pivotal role by launching India’s inaugural unmanned satellite, Aryabhata, marking the inception of India’s satellite program. Aryabhata, crafted entirely in Bengaluru by ISRO scientists, was sent into space via a Soviet Kosmos-3M rocket from Kapustin Yar, symbolizing a transformative moment for India’s space endeavours.

In subsequent collaborations, Russia launched India’s first experimental remote sensing satellite, Bhaskara-1, in 1979, facilitating studies in oceanography, forestry, and hydrology. The partnership continued with the successful launch of the indigenously built remote sensing satellite, IRS-1A, in 1988, focusing on agriculture, coastal management, and forests.

The two nations have signed numerous agreements over the years, reinforcing their cooperation for peaceful outer space exploration. Collaborative efforts encompass satellite launches, the GLONASS navigation system, remote sensing, and various societal applications of outer space, as detailed in a brief on India-Russia relations by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

India’s space journey, which began in 1969, has witnessed substantial growth, marked by significant milestones. Notably, India’s first foray into manned space exploration occurred in 1984 when Rakesh Sharma, an Indian Air Force pilot, travelled aboard the Russian Soyuz T-11 rocket during a joint space mission.

Sharma spent eight days on the Russian Salyut 7 orbital space station, conducting experiments related to science and space travel.

The collaborative spirit between India and Russia extended to the launch of YouthSat in 2011 from Sriharikota. This satellite, dedicated to university students, aimed to enhance understanding of Earth’s surface and explore energy in the Earth’s crust, showcasing the ongoing partnership between the two nations in advancing space exploration.