New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant announcement on Tuesday as he revealed the Gaganyaan Mission astronauts to the world. Pm Modi became the first Prime Minister to visit the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in four decades, where he met the four astronaut-designates of India’s Gaganyaan Mission. The four astronauts are Group Captain Prashanth Nair, Group Captain Angad Prathap, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. These individuals, who were short-listed four years ago, hail from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and are test pilots from the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in Bengaluru.
Group Captain Prashanth Nair, Group Captain Angad Prathap, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla have been chosen to be a part of India’s maiden human space flight mission. They are currently undergoing rigorous training in preparation for the Gaganyaan Mission, which marks India’s first human space flight program.
The four astronauts are:
- Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair
Group Captain Nair (47) completed his schooling from Kuwait where his father worked. Following their return to India, Nair joined the Chinmaya Mission School at Palakkad. Nair joined 93rd NDA course in Khadakwasla and then entered 163rd Pilot’s Course at the Air Force Academy from where he passed out with flying colours by bagging the ‘Sword of Honor’ given to the best outgoing cadet. Nair was commissioned on June 19, 1999.
- Group Captain Ajit Krishnan
- Group Captain Angad Pratap
- Wing Commander Subhanshu Shukla
Views from the #Indian astronauts’ training programme during their time in Russia.
• Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair
• Group Captain Ajit Krishnan
• Group Captain Angad Prathap
• Wing Commander Shubhansku Shukla#Gaganyaan #ISRO pic.twitter.com/833zX4nLJG— ISRO InSight (@ISROSight) February 27, 2024
While announcing names of the four astronauts, PM Modi expressed happiness and said that they will bring new glory to nation’s space exploration programs. “I am happy that today I got the opportunity to meet these astronauts and present them in front of the country. I want to congratulate them on behalf of the entire country…You are the pride of today’s India,” the Prime Minister stated.
Notably, Gaganyaan would be India’s first human space mission. All-out preparations are underway at ISRO for the project. Gagayaan would add another feat to India’s successful space exploration programs. In previous display of space prowess, India became the only nation last year to make successful landing of Chandrayaan on the South Pole of the Moon.
By 2035, ISRO plans to set up own ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ and has also prepared a timeline to send first Indian to the Moon by 2040.
