Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Kerala, made a historic announcement, revealing the names of the astronauts selected for India’s maiden human space flight mission, Gaganyaan. The four individuals currently undergoing intensive training for this ambitious venture are Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Shubhanshu Shukla.
Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair
A native of Palakkad, Prasanth is a Sukhoi fighter pilot with a rich military background. Joining the Air Force in 1999 after completing engineering at NSS College, Palakkad, he earned the prestigious Sword of Honour as the best-performing cadet. Furthermore, Prasanth excelled academically, securing the first rank at the United States Air Force Air Command and Staff College.
Gaganyaan Mission – Ajit Krishnan
Selected as Group Captain for the Gaganyaan mission, Ajit Krishnan is one of the four crew members shortlisted for this significant space endeavor.
Angad Prathap
Another Group Captain in the Gaganyaan crew, Angad Prathap underwent comprehensive training in Russia along with the other crew members, lasting for an extensive 13 months.
Gaganyaan Mission – Shubhanshu Shukla
Serving as a Wing Commander, Shubhanshu Shukla is part of the Gaganyaan team and has received training at Moscow’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, focusing on various aspects of space movement.
Gaganyaan Mission Overview
The Gaganyaan project aims to showcase India’s capability in human spaceflight. The three-member crew, consisting of the announced astronauts, will orbit at an altitude of 400 km for a three-day mission. Following the mission’s completion, the astronauts are set to return to Earth, making a splashdown in the waters of the Indian sea. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that these astronauts represent the dreams and aspirations of India’s 1.40 billion people.
