Gaganyaan Mission: PM Modi unveiles names of four astronauts

PM Modi unveiled the names of the four astronauts selected for India’s first human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, scheduled for launch in 2024-25. The chosen Indian Air Force pilots are Group Captain Prashanth Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, who were trained at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. He also expressed satisfaction that most equipment used in the Gaganyaan mission is “Made in India” and emphasized the coincidence of India’s economic ascent aligning with the country’s achievements in space exploration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India aims to have its own space station by 2035 to facilitate the study of unknown expanses in space on Tuesday. Speaking at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, PM Modi expressed the vision that an Indian astronaut will land on the moon’s surface using an indigenous rocket by 2035. He highlighted India’s significant achievements in space exploration, including launching about 400 satellites in the last decade.

PM Modi praised the astronauts, stating, “These are not just 4 names and 4 humans, but 4 forces taking 140 crore aspirations to space. After a long period of 40 years, an Indian is set to go into space. But this time, the time is ours, countdown ours, and the rocket is also ours.” He acknowledged that India’s success in the space sector is cultivating a scientific temperament among the country’s youth.

The Gaganyaan mission is India’s inaugural human spaceflight program, with extensive preparations underway at various ISRO centers. The project aims to demonstrate India’s capability to send humans into space, orbit the Earth, and return safely, with a planned launch in 2024-25. The success of this mission involves the development of critical technologies, including a human-rated launch vehicle, life support systems, and emergency escape provisions.

PM Modi, during his visit to the VSSC, reviewed the progress of the Gaganyaan mission and presented astronaut wings to the selected candidates. Additionally, he mentioned India’s aspiration to set up its own space station and send the first Indian to the Moon by 2040.