Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the names of the four astronauts selected for Bharat’s historic Gaganyaan mission. The selected astronauts are Indian Air Force (IAF) group captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair, group captain Ajit Krishnan, group captain Angad Pratap, and wing commander Subhanshu Shukla. These individuals have undergone rigorous training over the past five years in both Indian and Russian facilities in preparation for the mission.
During a gathering at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre or VSSC near Kerala’s capital, PM Modi presented astronaut wings to the four designates. He outlined the significance of their selection, stating that they embody the space aspirations of Bharat’s 1.4 billion citizens. The PM expressed pride in Bharat’s re-entry into manned space travel after over four decades, highlighting that this time, Bharat’s launchpad, rocket, and countdown procedures would be entirely indigenous.
As part of his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, PM Modi inaugurated three crucial space infrastructure projects totalling approximately ₹1,800 crore. These projects include the ‘PSLV Integration Facility’ at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the ‘Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and Stage Test Facility’ at the Indian Space Research Organisation-ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, and the ‘Trisonic Wind Tunnel’ at VSSC. PM Modi reviewed the progress of the Gaganyaan mission during his visit.
The Gaganyaan mission, Bharat’s maiden human spaceflight project, aims to showcase ISRO’s capability in manned space travel by launching a crew of three members to an orbit 400 km above Earth for a three-day mission, ensuring their safe return. The final mission will carry only three astronauts, selected from the current pool of astronaut designates.
Leading up to the manned mission, ISRO has been conducting extensive tests to ensure the safety and reliability of the systems involved. Last week, the space agency achieved a significant milestone in the human rating of its CE20 cryogenic engine, which powers the cryogenic stage of the human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark-III for Gaganyaan mission. ISRO announced the successful completion of the final round of ground qualification tests for the CE20 engine, including life demonstration tests, endurance tests, and performance assessments under various conditions.
With the completion of these ground qualification tests, ISRO has taken another step forward in realising Bharat’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission. The successful development and testing of crucial infrastructure and technologies underscore Bharat’s growing capabilities in space exploration and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific achievement.
