India announces astronaut squad for Gaganyaan mission

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the four Indians who will be part of India’s first indigenous human spaceflight endeavor, the Gaganyaan mission.

Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla have been undergoing training for India’s ambitious space mission.

All four pilots finished their training at a facility in Russia and are currently acquainting themselves with the mission at an Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) facility in Bengaluru.

The astronaut-designates, all from the Indian Air Force, were conferred ‘astronaut wings’ by Modi and will embark on the mission next year.

Isro said the Gaganyaan mission launch vehicle can accommodate only three passengers, and the final crew will be picked from the current pool of four astronaut-designates.

Modi announced the names during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram.

During a live stream from the venue, he emphasized the historic nature of the occasion, highlighting India’s growing prominence in the global space sector.

“They are not just four names or individuals, they are four ‘Shakti’ (power) of carrying the aspirations of 140 crore Indians into space”, he said.

“An Indian is going into space after 40 years. However, now, the time, the countdown as well as the rocket belong to us.”

The reforms in the space sector will help our youth. pic.twitter.com/vfIsM5w765

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 27, 2024

Modi also launched three infrastructure projects, valued at a combined $217 million (₹1,800 crore), which are expected to boost India’s spacefaring capabilities.

The projects include the PSLV Integration Facility at Sriharikota, the Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and Stage Test facility at Mahendragiri, and the Trisonic Wind Tunnel at VSSC.

Modi also outlined India’s space exploration plans, including a lunar landing mission with an astronaut onboard, a sample return mission from the Moon, and the establishment of an indigenous space station by 2035.

According to Isro, Gaganyaan is designed to showcase India’s ability to independently conduct a human spaceflight mission to low earth orbit by launching a three-member crew on a three-day mission to a 400 km orbit around Earth, followed by a safe return and landing in Indian waters.

Before the main launch, several unmanned missions will take place including an Integrated Air Drop Test, Pad Abort Test, and Test Vehicle flights.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, union minister of state V. Muraleedharan, state governor Arif Mohammad Khan, and Isro chairman S. Somanath were present on the occasion.