‘India’s first human spaceflight’ Gaganyaan: PM to unveil names of four Indian astronauts for space travel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Tuesday. During this visit, he will assess the preparations for the Gaganyaan Mission and disclose the identities of the four test pilots currently undergoing training for this mission.

PM Modi tweeted on social media informing “I will be at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, in Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow, where 3 key projects relating to the space sector will be inaugurated. These projects will ensure better technical facilities for the sector. I will also review the progress in the Gaganyaan Mission.”

Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), S Somanath, also announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to unveil the identities of the four Indian astronauts chosen for the Gaganyaan mission, the country’s inaugural human spaceflight endeavor. The revelation is scheduled to take place during the Prime Minister’s visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram today.

In a social media video, the Isro Chairman disclosed that Modi would meet the astronaut-designates before disclosing their names, emphasizing that these individuals would shoulder the responsibility of pioneering the mission. Somanath stated, “They (astronauts) will be awarded the ‘wings’ or logos for them to become the chosen astronauts for the manned space mission.” Expressing delight over the Prime Minister’s visit to VSSC, Somanath highlighted the significance of this occasion.

What is Gaganyaan Mission?

The Gaganyaan project, scheduled for launch in 2025, is designed to showcase Isro’s competence in sending humans into space and ensuring their safe return to Earth, with a planned landing in Indian territorial waters. This mission is not only represents a technological advancement but also underscores India’s expanding expertise in space exploration.

Preparations for India’s first human spaceflight program, the Gaganyaan Mission, are actively underway at various ISRO centers.

In 2019, ISRO initiated a thorough selection process, scrutinizing a dozen pilots for the mission and ultimately shortlisting four candidates. The selection criteria included rigorous testing against high ‘G force,’ a pivotal aspect in the selection of Air Force pilots. The selected pilots hold ranks such as group captain or wing commander.

Although ISRO confirmed the selection of four candidates in 2020, their identities remained undisclosed. Following this confirmation, the chosen pilots underwent comprehensive space flight training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia in 2020.

Upon their return to India, they participated in a diverse array of training activities, including aero-medical, fitness, recovery, and survival training. On Air Force Day, the Indian Air Force spotlighted the demanding training regimen undergone by the selected pilots.

Additionally; visiting the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate three space infrastructure projects valued at approximately Rs 1,800 crore, aimed at providing top-notch technical facilities for the space sector. These projects comprise the PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; the new ‘Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and stage Test facility’ at the Isro Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri; and the ‘Trisonic Wind Tunnel’ at VSSC.