New Delhi: Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, on the sidelines of the NXT Conclave hosted by ITV Network.
Artemyev, who has taken part in three space missions, presented
the Prime Minister with the national flags of India
and Russia that had
flown to the International Space Station. He also gifted a copy of “On the Moon,” a book written by Russian space science pioneer Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed the gesture and spoke about the long history of space cooperation between India and Russia.
He said space exploration has always brought countries closer and highlighted how Russia has played a key role in India’s Gaganyaan mission, especially in training astronauts and sharing technical expertise.
Later, the Prime Minister posted a photograph from the meeting on social media, calling the gifts a mark of the strong friendship between the two countries.
In his post, he
said space science is not just about technology but also about partnerships that inspire young people to dream beyond the skies.
“Pleased to meet Mr. Oleg Artemyev, a leading cosmonaut from Russia. He has been at the forefront of some of the most pioneering expeditions. His accomplishments will motivate many youngsters to shine in the world of science and space,” the PM wrote on X.
India and Russia have collaborated in space research for decades, starting with the 1984 flight of Rakesh Sharma aboard a Russian Soyuz craft. That cooperation has continued through ISRO’s various projects.