Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Prathp and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla are the four Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots selected as the ‘astronaut designates’ for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, scheduled for 2025.
Their identities were disclosed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvanathapuram on February 27.
The final crew for the mission will be chosen from these four individuals.
After a thorough selection process, they have been receiving training in various aspects of space travel, initially in Russia, and later at the Astronaut Training Facility established by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bengaluru.
Mr. Modi also bestowed the four individuals with the ‘wings’ for the Gaganyaan programme during the event.
ISRO has outlined that the Gaganyaan programme aims to showcase the country’s ability to carry out a human space flight mission to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This initiative is anticipated to lay the foundation for a sustainable Indian human space exploration programme in the future.
Leading up to the manned mission to LEO, ISRO is currently undertaking a series of tests. These tests encompass the Integrated Air Drop tests, Test Vehicle Missions, and pad Abort Tests. Prior to the official flight, there will be unmanned flights as well.
Three space sector facilities
During his visit, Mr. Modi assessed the progress of the Gaganyaan Mission and inaugurated three technical facilities that were developed at a cost of approximately ₹1,800 crore. These facilities include the advanced Trisonic Wind Tunnel at the VSSC, integration facilities for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, and the Semi-cryogenic Integrated Engine and Stage Test Facility (SIET) at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
The Trisonic Wind Tunnel is responsible for generating a controlled and uniform airflow over scale models of rockets and aircraft to evaluate their aerodynamic characteristics. Its purpose is to enable ISRO to independently design upcoming launch vehicle projects. The PSLV Integration Facilities (PIF) in Sriharikota will enhance ISRO’s capacity to conduct 15 PSLV missions per year, up from the current 6. The SIET will be utilized to test the SCE-2000 semi-cryogenic engine and stages, which will enhance the payload capability of the launch vehicles.
Upon his arrival, ISRO chairman S. Somanath provided the Prime Minister with a demonstration of equipment related to the Gaganyaan mission, including the humanoid robot named ‘Vyommitra’ developed by the space agency for the program.
The event was attended by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan.