Russia, India Cooperating In Space and Upcoming Moon, Mars Exploration: Cosmonaut

Russia’s leading cosmonaut, Oleg Artemyev, has been visiting India attending the NXT Conclave and has met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss space collaboration.

Artemyev said that “India and Russia have been cooperating in space for six decades, and this collaboration will expand on a wide front to include lunar projects, Mars exploration, and initiatives related to automated space stations. We will work together in Earth orbit, then in lunar orbit, then a lunar base on the visible side of the Moon, on the far side of the Moon, and then we will go to Mars and explore asteroids along the way.”

The NXT Conclave is India’s version of Davos and brings together world leaders and industry titans to discuss the next decade of progress in governance, technology, and economic transformation. This inaugural event was themed “Shaping the future of Humanity” and included influential leaders and visionaries from over 120 countries to discuss, explore, and catalyse ideas to address pressing global challenges and drive impactful solutions.

According to Artemyev, Modi described Russia as a friend of India and committed to further cooperation between both countries, with Artemyev saying “I think that the relations between India and Russia, particularly between Modi and President Putin, allow us to think and dream.”

Artemyev praised India’s recent achievements in space exploration, including its successful landing at the Moon’s south pole in August 2023, and commended the Indian team of astronauts selected for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission – India’s first human spaceflight program. Modi announced the selection of four Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilots last year. All four have undergone extensive training at Russia’s Gagarin training centre. Artemyev said “The four Indian cosmonauts who are now preparing for the flight have received excellent training in Russia. We have observed them and believe they are among the best people on our planet for this kind of task.”