In a landmark announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed the names of the four astronauts who will spearhead India’s inaugural human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, set to embark on its historic journey in 2024-25. The selected astronauts, all distinguished Indian Air Force pilots, include Group Captain Prashanth Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla.
These four individuals underwent rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia, preparing themselves for the challenges and wonders of space exploration. The grand unveiling took place during PM Modi’s visit to Kerala, where he personally bestowed upon the chosen aviators the prestigious ‘astronaut wings’ at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
It was a very special moment for me to hand over wings to the four Indian astronaut-designates. They reflect the hopes, aspirations and optimism of 140 crore Indians.
India is proud of Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad… pic.twitter.com/i0oseaxd4o
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 27, 2024
This momentous occasion underscores India’s steady march towards becoming a space-faring nation, nurturing scientific curiosity and ambition among its youth. Addressing the gathering at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, PM Modi emphasized the transformative power of India’s achievements in space exploration, noting that they are igniting a passion for science and innovation across the nation.
He articulated that as India ascends to become one of the world’s top economies, the Gaganyaan mission will elevate the country’s space endeavors to unprecedented heights. The Gaganyaan project, a cornerstone of India’s space exploration endeavors, aims to demonstrate the nation’s capability to conduct crewed space missions.
The mission entails launching a crew of three members into orbit, where they will spend three days before safely returning to Earth, touching down in the Indian sea waters. To achieve this ambitious goal, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been diligently developing critical technologies, including a human-rated launch vehicle, life support systems, crew emergency escape mechanisms, and comprehensive crew management protocols.
Precursor missions such as the Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT), Pad Abort Test (PAT), and Test Vehicle (TV) flights are planned to validate the readiness of these systems before the manned mission commences. The LVM3 rocket, renowned for its reliability and robustness, has been designated as the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission, ensuring the safe transportation of the crew into space.
ISRO’s unwavering commitment to human safety is evident through its development of cutting-edge engineering and human-centric systems, designed to mitigate risks and ensure the well-being of astronauts during their journey beyond Earth’s confines.
As India embarks on this extraordinary voyage into the cosmos, the Gaganyaan mission symbolizes the nation’s indomitable spirit of exploration and innovation. With each stride forward, India reaffirms its position as a trailblazer in the realm of space exploration, inspiring generations to dream big and reach for the stars.