Marking Cosmonauts’ Day, President Vladimir Putin met with Russian cosmonauts and with the heads of Russia’s space sector.
During video link-ups with the International Space Station and Star City, Mr Putin congratulated the station’s current crew and the crew recently returned to Earth on the holiday.
The President also congratulated everyone currently or formerly working in Russia’s rocket-building and space sector. Yury Gagarin’s flight into outer space 45 years ago marked the beginning of a new stage in human history. Today’s generation of space explorers are highly qualified professionals who are carrying on the glorious traditions of their predecessors and making a worthy contribution to the exploration of outer space, Mr Putin said in his congratulatory message.