The Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), S Somanath, said that PM Narendra Modi on February 27, 2024 has revealed the names of the four Indian astronauts chosen to go to space as part of the Gaganyaan Mission, the nation’s first spaceflight mission. The Prime Minister made the announcement during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre located in Thiruvananthapuram at around 10:45 AM today.
In a video posted on social media, the ISRO Chairman says that the Modi will also meet the astronauts-designates begore revealing their names to the nation that “these are the people that will take on the responsibility of flying for the first time in the mission”.
The four astronauts who have been selected for the daring mission are Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Subhanshu Shukla. Needless to say, all the four cosmonauts are esteemed officers of the Indian Air Force (IAF). They belong to the Aircraft and Systems Training Establishment (ASTE) in the city of Bengaluru.
Group Captain Prasanth B Nair is Sukhoi-30MKI fighter pilot from Kerala. The four pilots have been undergoing training for India’s space mission in Zvyozdny Gorodok city in Russia. After multiple rounds of selection, the final four test pilots were shortlisted by the IAM and ISRO.
“These astronauts will be awarded wings or logos for them to become the chosen astronauts for the manned space mission,” he added. He also expressed happiness over PM Modi’s visit to the VSSC. The Gaganyaan Project, slated to send humans into space and return them safely to Earth landing in Indian territorial waters. India’s national space agency, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on February 13 completed the final round of ground qualification tests on February 13, 2024.
The mission is not just a technological leap, but also testament to India’s three space infrastructure projects worth Rs 1800 crore to provide world class technical facilities for space sector. The projects include the PSLV Integration Facility at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, new semi-cryogenic integrated engine and stage test facility at the ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri and the Trisonic Wind Tunnel.
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