Ganganyaan mission: PM Modi reveals names of 4 Indian astronaut-designates
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: A day after ISRO Chairman S. Somanath said India is planning to send its crewed mission to the Moon by 2040, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday revealed the names of four astronaut-designates selected for the prestigious Gaganyaan mission.
Gaganyaan is India’s crewed orbital spacecraft intended to be the formative spacecraft of the country’s first human spaceflight program. The spacecraft is being designed to carry three people, and a planned upgraded version will be equipped with rendezvous and docking capabilities.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath recently said that Gaganyaan’s launch is expected by the end of 2025. The nation will have a space station by the year 2035.
During his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Kerala on Tuesday, PM Modi congratulated the four Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots: Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Prathap, and Ajit Krishnan (all Group Captains), and Shubhanshu Shukla (Wing Commander).
Two to three pilots from these astronaut-designates, all undergoing intensive training currently, will be shortlisted for the Gaganyaan mission next year.
While revealing their names, he urged the gathering to give a standing ovation to the four astronauts-designates.
PM Modi also bestowed the ‘astronaut wings” on them, and reviewed the progress of the Gaganyaan mission.
He called the astronaut-designates as the “four forces encompassing the aspirations of 1.40 billion people.”
“In the development journey of every country, there are some moments which not only define the present but also the future of its coming generations. Today is one such moment for India,” he added.
PM Modi also cautioned the people, including the media, to let the four “new celebrities” focus on their work and mission, instead of mobbing them everywhere.
He said that he was “proud and happy” that most components used in the Gaganyaan human flight mission are being made in India. He reminded the people that women scientists and engineers are an important part of space missions like Chandrayaan and Ganganyaan and these missions would not have been possible without them.
The PM also inaugurated three crucial space infrastructure projects with an estimated value of about Rs 1,800 crore.
These include the PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, which will significantly boost launch frequency, and the new Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and Stage Test facility at IPRC Mahendragiri, aimed at enhancing payload capability.
Besides, he also inaugurated the Trisonic Wind Tunnel at VSSC to support aerodynamic testing for rockets and aircraft during atmospheric flight.
