Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently unveiled the identities of the four astronauts chosen for India’s inaugural human space flight mission, Gaganyaan. During his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Kerala, PM Modi introduced Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Shubhanshu Shukla as the selected individuals, emphasizing their representation of the collective aspirations of India’s 1.40 billion citizens.
Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, a Group Captain, hails from Kerala and underwent training in Russia for the mission. Graduating from the National Defence Academy, he joined the Air Force in 1999, specializing as a fighter pilot flying Sukhoi warplanes. Reports also identify him as a top graduate of the US Air Command and Staff College in Alabama, highlighting his extensive training in Bengaluru’s Human Space Flight Centre alongside his Russian preparation.
Ajit Krishnan, another Group Captain, stands among the selected candidates for the mission. Notably, three out of the four crew members will eventually embark on the space journey, according to reports.
Angad Prathap, also a Group Captain, shares the training experience with his counterparts in Russia, having undergone a rigorous 13-month program at the ISRO.
Shubhanshu Shukla, a Wing Commander, completes the quartet, having received training at Moscow’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, specializing in various aspects of space navigation.
The Gaganyaan project, overseen by ISRO, aims to showcase India’s capability in human spaceflight, intending to launch a three-member crew into a 400 km orbit for a three-day mission. Upon completion, the astronauts will safely return to Earth by landing in Indian sea waters.
Critical to the success of the Gaganyaan mission are the development of key technologies, including a human-rated launch vehicle for secure crew transportation, a Life Support System ensuring a conducive environment for the crew in space, provisions for crew emergency evacuation, and comprehensive crew management protocols for training, recovery, and rehabilitation, as reported by ANI citing ISRO.