Watch: Indian Flag Unfurled 30 Km Above Earth In Space, Raja Chari Shares Photo Of Tricolour At ISS

On the occasion of India’s 76th Independence Day, Space Kidz India unfurled the Indian flag in space, at a height of 30 kilometres above sea level, in order to celebrate 75 years of independence. 

Space Kidz India unfurled the Indian flag in space (top) on India's 76th Independence Day; NASA astronaut Raja Chari has shared pictures which he clicked during his stay aboard the International Space Station. In some of the photos, the Indian flag is seen on the ISS.

Source : Twitter/@SpaceKidzIndia | Twitter/@IndianEmbassyUS

On the occasion of India’s 76th Independence Day, Space Kidz India, an aerospace organisation creating young scientists for the country, unfurled the Indian flag in space, at a height of 30 kilometres above sea level, in order to celebrate 75 years of independence. 

Recently, AzaadiSAT, a satellite developed by Space Kidz India, was launched into space as part of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO's) SSLV-D1 mission. However, the satellite was not placed into the intended orbit, as a result of which it is no longer functional. 

Celebrating 75 Years of Independence by unfurling the Indian Flag @ 30 km in Near Space.@PMOIndia @narendramodi @DrJitendraSingh@isro @INSPACeIND@mygovindia#AzadiKaAmritMahotsov#HarGharTiranga pic.twitter.com/4ZIJMdSZE6

— Space Kidz India (@SpaceKidzIndia) August 14, 2022

‘All Of India Should Be Proud On This Historic Anniversary’: NASA Astronaut Raja Chari 

NASA astronaut Raja Chari and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti have sent Independence Day wishes to the nation. Chari, who recently completed a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has shared some pictures from space which he clicked during his stay on the orbital outpost. In some of the pictures, India's national flag is seen on the space station.

Chari, who is an Indian-American astronaut, wrote on Twitter that on the eve of India's Independence Independence Day, he was reminded of the Indian diaspora that could be seen from the space station, and where Hyderabad, the hometown of his immigrant father, shines. 

On Indian Independence eve I’m reminded of Indian diaspora that I could see from @Space_Station where my immigrant father’s home town of Hyderabad shines bright. @nasa is just 1 place Indian Americans make a difference every day. Looking forward to @IndianEmbassyUS celebration pic.twitter.com/4eXWHd49q6

— Raja Chari (@Astro_Raja) August 14, 2022

Chari also said that NASA is one place where Indian-Americans make a difference every day. 

In a video shared by the Indian Embassy in the United States, Chari can be heard saying that he is excited to be with India virtually to celebrate t]he nation's 75th anniversary of independence. 

🇺🇸NASA Astronaut Raja Chari
⁦⁦@Astro_Raja⁩ wishes on #Indiaat75. Thank you for your wonderful greetings 🇮🇳 ⁦@AmritMahotsav⁩ ⁦@MEAIndia⁩ ⁦@IndianDiplomacy⁩ ⁦@DDNewslive⁩ ⁦ pic.twitter.com/iykjsxcYgN

— India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) August 13, 2022

Chari also said that NASA and ISRO have a long history of cooperation, going back to the early days of the space age, when the US space agency was the predecessor of the Indian space agency to test sounding rockets in India. 

"That work, cooperation continues today, as we work on joint space and Earth science missions, and also share communications resources to enable ISRO missions that work on Mars and the Moon. We look forward to the near future to the first human spaceflight mission launched by ISRO, and look forward to working with you and cooperating with you in the future as NASA looks to return to the Moon to stay as part of the Artemis Program. Congratulations, and all of India should be proud on this historic anniversary," Chari said.

ESA Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti Congratulates India On 75 Years Of Independence

On August 13, ISRO shared a video which shows ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti sending Independence Day greetings from the ISS, on behalf of NASA, ESA, and all the international partners of the orbital laboratory. 

"It is a pleasure to congratulate India on 75 years of independence. For decades, international agencies have cooperated with the Indian Space Research Organisation on many space and science missions. And that cooperation continues to date," Cristoforetti said. 

Thank you @NASA, @esa, and all the partners of the International Space Station👋 @Space_Station for the wishes on #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/2r0xuwdSQ4

— ISRO (@isro) August 13, 2022

Cristoforetti also talked about the upcoming NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, a joint Earth-observing mission between the US and Indian space agencies. She said the Earth science mission will help track disasters and get a better understanding of the planet's changing climate. 

"On behalf of ESA, NASA, and all international partners, I would like to wish the best of luck to ISRO as it works on the Gaganyaan programme and gets ready to send humans into space. Expanding our partnership with ISRO, and exploring the universe together is a goal for all of us for future space exploration," Cristoforetti concluded.