The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to embark on the journey of the first human spaceflight by launching a crew of 4 members in 2025- Gaganyaan Mission. The project has starred four astronauts after passing the crucial selection process in 2019.

According to the official reports, the selected astronauts, Group Captains Prasnath Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla have been trained in the Astronaut Training Facility established in Bengaluru.

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair:

  • Born: Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala on August 26, 1976
  • Alumnus of NDA
  • Recipient of Sword of Honour at Air Force Academy
  • Commissioned on December 19, 1998, in the fighter stream of IAF
  • Cat A Flying Instructor and Test Pilot with approximately 3000 hrs of flying experience
  • Flown a variety of aircraft including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, etc.
  • Alumnus of United States Staff College and a DS at DSSC, Wellington and FIS, Tambaram
  • Commanded a premier fighter Su-30 Squadron

Group Captain Ajit Krishnan:

  • Born: Chennai, Tamil Nadu on April 19, 1982
  • Alumnus of NDA
  • Recipient of President’s Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at Air Force Academy
  • Commissioned on June 21, 2003, in the fighter stream of IAF
  • Flying Instructor and Test Pilot with approximately 2900 hrs of flying experience
  • Flown a variety of aircraft including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Dornier, An-32, etc.
  • Alumnus of DSSC, Wellington

Group Captain Angad Pratap:

  • Born: Prayagraj on July 17, 1982
  • Alumnus of NDA
  • Commissioned on December 18, 2004, in the fighter stream of IAF
  • Flying Instructor and Test Pilot with approximately 2000 hrs of flying experience
  • Flown a variety of aircraft including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, etc.

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla:

  • Born: Lucknow, UP on October 10, 1985
  • Alumnus of NDA
  • Commissioned on June 17, 2006, in the fighter stream of IAF
  • Fighter Combat Leader and Test Pilot with approximately 2000 hrs of flying experience
  • Flown a variety of aircraft including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, etc.

The Resilient Training Process

The training not only includes classroom notes but also other resilient trainings like, Physical Fitness training, Simulator training and Flight suit training. The training regimen for India’s Gaganyaan mission encompasses diverse modules, covering academic courses, Gaganyaan Flight Systems, Micro-gravity familiarization via Parabolic Flights, Aero-medical training, Recovery & Survival training, mastery of Flight Procedures, and hands-on experience with Crew Training Simulators. The comprehensive program also integrates Aero-medical training, Periodical flying practice, and Yoga sessions to ensure holistic astronaut preparation.

In anticipation of the 91st Air Force Day, the Indian Air Force (IAF) released a video in early October 2023, offering a sneak peek into the intensive training of astronaut candidates earmarked for the Gaganyaan mission. The 11-minute video titled ‘Air Power Beyond Boundary’ provided a glimpse into not only the astronaut training but also showcased India’s prowess in fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, and missile capabilities.

The Gaganyaan Mission

The Gaganyaan, translating to ‘celestial vehicle,’ is designed to transport three astronauts on a 3-day mission to an orbit of 400 km and safely return them to Earth, with a planned landing in Indian sea waters.

On February 27th, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram to unveil the names of the four selected astronauts for this historic mission. The announcement marks a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey, underscoring the nation’s commitment to advancing its capabilities in space travel and research.