One of the four selected astronauts for Bharat’s Gaganyaan mission will embark on a trip to the International Space Station (ISS) following August, as announced by Union Minister Jitendra Singh. This visit marks a collaborative venture between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA.
Singh informed the Lok Sabha that the mission will be a joint effort involving ISRO, NASA, and Axiom Space, a private entity identified by NASA. “ISRO is collaborating with NASA on a mission to the ISS, with one ‘Gaganyaatri’ set to undertake this space travel,” Singh said.
The mission, known as the Axiom-4 Mission, will be the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS. It is scheduled for launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than August 2024.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the four Gaganyaatris – elite fighter pilots from the Indian Air Force (IAF). The selected astronauts are Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap, along with Wing Commander Shubanshu Shukla.
Singh also mentioned that these IAF pilots are currently undergoing rigorous training at ISRO’s Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru. “They have completed two of the three training semesters, and independent and static mockup simulators have been set up,” he added.
The Gaganyaan mission, expected to launch next year, represents a significant milestone for Bharat’s space exploration ambitions.
