Four IAF test pilots to go on India’s first manned space mission
NEW DELHI : The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Tuesday revealed the first four astronauts selected for India’s human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan. The astronauts are test pilots with the Indian Air Force, and will be a part of the country’s first ever manned space mission that is scheduled for take-off by the end of next year. The astronauts—Group Captains Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan and Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Subhanshu Shukla—were offered designatory astronaut-wing badges by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Isro’s headquarters.
The astronauts are the final four from a list of 12 candidates shortlisted for Gaganyaan. They underwent training in Russia between 2020 and 2021 before continuing to be trained via simulator facilities in Bengaluru. “India’s success in the space sector is sowing the seeds of scientific temperament in the country’s young generation," Modi said, addressing the event during his visit.
He also unveiled the PSLV Integration Facility and the Semi-cryogenic Integrated Engine and Stage Test (SIEST) facility in Mahendragiri, Odisha, and a Trisonic Wind Tunnel at the Isro headquarters. This was Modi’s first visit to Isro’s primary facilities. The 47-year-old Nair is the senior-most of the four chosen astronauts, and is a Sword of Honour-recipient at the Air Force Academy.
Nair was commissioned in 1998, and has over 3,000 hours of flying experience. Krishnan, 41, is a President’s gold medal awardee, and has over 2,900 hours of flying experience. Pratap (41) and Shukla (38) both have over 2,000 flying hours under their belts.
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