The message reads, in part:
“This momentous event opened a new page in the history of humanity. It ushered in an era of extraterrestrial space exploration, large-scale research and high technology development. This event was definitely a genuine triumph for our aerospace industry, our entire country.
Over the past decades, due to the relentless creative efforts of talented scientists, designers, other specialists, and the military, our country carried out advanced, breakthrough projects, built modern spaceports and research centres and created powerful, competitive space systems and strategic missile complexes.
It is gratifying that you respect the professional traditions of your predecessors and are making a tangible contribution to implementing the national space programme and ensuring Russia’s defence capability and security.”