Bengaluru, 12 April

The Department of Posts on Sunday released two commemorative postage stamps and souvenir sheets to celebrate the remarkable progress of India's human space programme, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

K Prakash, chief postmaster general of the Karnataka Postal Circle, released the commemorative stamps in the presence of V Narayanan, ISRO chairman and group captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS).

The commemorative postage stamps and souvenir sheets visually capture India's journey from early achievements, such as the launch of Aryabhata, to its future ambitions in human spaceflight and orbital infrastructure. They also reflect India's rich scientific heritage, symbolised by landmarks such as the Jantar Mantar.

One souvenir sheet showcases the Gaganyaan crew module alongside future aspirations like Bharatiya Antariksha Station, reflecting India's vision of establishing a space station by 2035.

The other sheet draws inspiration from the Axiom 4 mission machine and beautifully connects India's ancient astronomical heritage with modern scientific machines, he said.

The mission patch created by designer Manish Tripathi for Shukla's historic Axiom 4mission spaceflight was part of the stamp released on the occasion of the International Day of Human Space Flight.

Group Captain Shukla said that space missions or explorations have the potential to transform a nation.

ISRO Chairman Narayanan lauded the service of the postal department for the nation during his address.

Crediting PM Narendra Modi for the human space flight programme, Narayanan asserted that ensuring the safety of astronauts is of utmost priority while preparing for the human space flight missions.