The names of the four astronauts selected to embark on India’s landmark human space flight mission, Gaganyaan in 2024-25 has been revealed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while evaluating of the Gaganyaan project’s progress at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Kerala, unveiled the names, on Tuesday.
The esteemed quartet, comprising Group Captain Prashanth Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, all from the Indian Air Force, underwent rigorous training at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre to prepare for their historic journey.
The mission marks India’s maiden venture into human space exploration, with thorough groundwork underway across various Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facilities.
Addressing the audience at the space centre, PM Modi highlighted the pivotal role of India’s advancements in space exploration in nurturing a vibrant scientific culture among the country’s youth.
The Gaganyaan project, as per ISRO, aims to validate human spaceflight capabilities by sending a crew of three into orbit 400 km above Earth for a three-day mission, culminating in a safe return via splashdown in Indian waters.
Essential prerequisites include the development of critical technologies such as a human-rated launch vehicle, life support systems, crew emergency protocols, and robust crew management frameworks.
A series of preparatory missions, including the Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT), Pad Abort Test (PAT), and Test Vehicle (TV) flights, are scheduled to demonstrate technological readiness ahead of the manned mission.
The deployment of the LVM3 rocket, ISRO’s trusted heavy-lift launcher, has been designated for the Gaganyaan mission with a paramount focus on human safety.
India’s recent triumphs, including the successful Chandrayaan-3 soft landing on the Moon’s South Pole and the launch of Aditya-L1, showcase its growing prominence in the global space domain, propelling momentum in the domestic private space sector.
