India has extended an invitation to Russian experts for cooperation in the space sector, as announced by India`s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar.
“We are not only looking forward to continuing our existing cooperation with Roscosmos but also invite Russian scientists to become our partners in the space domain,” the Ambassador stated at an event celebrating India`s National Space Day.
He further emphasized the commercial prospects of such a partnership, adding, “From our side, we offer a large and continuously expanding market for innovation and the commercialization of this sector.”
India`s Recent Lunar Achievements: Chandrayaan-3
The invitation for enhanced cooperation comes on the heels of India`s remarkable success with its Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission. Launched in July 2023, the automatic space station entered lunar orbit in early August of the same year. Following this, the `Vikram` lander module successfully detached and performed two orbital reduction maneuvers, culminating in a historic landing on the Moon`s South Pole on August 23, 2023.
On the very day of the landing, the Indian rover `Pragyan` was deployed onto the surface of Earth`s natural satellite. The rover`s onboard instruments conducted experiments until September 2, after which scientists confirmed that Pragyan had completed its objectives and was subsequently placed into sleep mode.
During its operations at the Moon`s South Pole, the Chandrayaan-3 lander also carried out an “experimental hop.” Utilizing its engines, it ascended approximately 40 centimeters and relocated itself 30-40 centimeters from its initial landing point. According to scientists, this maneuver was a crucial test of technologies designed for future lunar ascent from the surface.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth