Continuing Russian collaboration for India's space mission will see the launch of a satellite for atmospheric studies on April 20 from Sriharikota, N.A. Listopadov, Consul General, Consulate General of the Russian Federation of South India, said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the launch of a 15-day photo exhibition organised by the Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre and the Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Mr. Listopadov said Indo-Russian cooperation had a long history and their partnership in space programmes was bound to improve in the coming years.
The Indian Space Research Organisation is scheduled to launch three satellites on April 20 —the ResourceSat-2, the YouthSat and the X-Sat. YouthSat is a joint Indo-Russian satellite for stellar and atmospheric studies.
The Consul General said an event to commemorate Yuri Gagarin was quite fitting as the trail-blazing Russian cosmonaut belonged to the entire humanity and not to Russia alone. S. Muthukumaran, chairman, Executive Committee, Science City, said Russian collaboration had been vital in developing India's space programme that today influences virtually every sphere of life ranging from healthcare to distance education. P. Iyamperumal, Executive Director, Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, said the photo exhibition of rare pictures of Yuri Gagarin's space voyage aim to kindle interest in children to take up careers in science and technology. The Consul General also gave away certificates to winners of a quiz contest held by the centre.
