PM Modi introduces astronauts for Gaganyaan Space Mission

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed the identities of four pilots who are currently in training for India's first manned space mission, 'Gaganyaan'.

The pilots named were Group Captain P Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander S Shukla.

Additionally, the Prime Minister conferred (grant a title) 'astronaut wings' to these four astronaut candidates.

"I am delighted to have the chance today to interact with these astronauts and introduce them to the nation. I extend my congratulations to them on behalf of the entire country. You are the glory of contemporary India," PM Modi stated during his speech.

He further remarked, "The achievements of India in the realm of space are nurturing a scientific mindset among the youth of our nation."

During a brief visit to Kerala, PM Modi made a stop at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, to assess the advancements of the Gaganyaan Mission.

He was joined by Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister Muraleedharan, and ISRO Chairman S Somanath.

The four individuals, selected four years prior, are test pilots from the Indian Air Force (IAF), specifically from the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) located in Bengaluru.

Many test pilots applied to be astronauts, and 12 were successful in advancing beyond the initial selection phase, which concluded in September 2019 in Bengaluru. This selection process took place at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), affiliated with the Indian Air Force (IAF).

After multiple rounds of selection, IAM and ISRO identified the final four candidates. At the beginning of 2020, ISRO sent these four test pilots to Russia for their preliminary training. Although the Covid-19 pandemic caused some delays, they completed their training by 2021.

Ever since their introduction, the four astronauts have been engaged in various training modules across India. To facilitate this training, ISRO has collaborated with numerous entities, including those from the military sector. ISRO is also upgrading its Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) by adding a variety of simulators to aid in training. To maintain their physical condition, the astronauts continue their regular flight exercises with the Indian Air Force and adhere to additional fitness routines regularly.

The Gaganyaan Mission

The Gaganyaan mission, India's inaugural manned space venture, is scheduled for launch within the 2024-2025 timeframe. This initiative aims to send a crew of three astronauts into a 400 km orbit for a mission lasting three days, followed by their safe return to Earth, landing in the waters off the coast of India.

According to a statement from ISRO, the success of the mission depends on a carefully planned approach that uses the skills and knowledge from within ISRO, help from Indian Industrial Sectors , the intelligence of Indian universities and research centers, and modern technologies from global partners.

Last week, ISRO achieved a significant milestone in India's space mission efforts by successfully completing the human rating of its CE20 cryogenic engine.

ISRO has reached an important goal in making its CE20 cryogenic engine safe for humans. This engine powers the cryogenic stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle used for Gaganyaan missions. They finished the last set of ground tests needed for approval on February 13, 2024. The last test, which was one of seven vacuum ignition tests, took place at the High Altitude Test Facility at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri. These tests were done to mimic the conditions the engine would face during flight, ISRO explained in a statement.

(The author Girish Linganna of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach out to him at: [email protected])