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Gaganyaan mission: Meet the four astronauts who will create space history for India
PM Modi said that the country is becoming a global commercial hub in the field of space.
The four astronauts for Gangayaan mission. (From left: Group captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, group captain Ajit Krishnan, group captain Angad Pratap and wing commander Shubhanshu Shukla / X/@pinarayivijayan
PM Narendra Modi revealed the names of four astronaut-designates as part of the country's first ever human space flight mission Gaganyaan.
He also reviewed the progress of the mission and inaugurated three space infrastructure projects during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Three group captains Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap, and wing commander Shubhanshu Shukla were bestowed with astronaut wings by the Prime Minister as part of the visit.
The four astronauts are Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilots from the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in Bengaluru. They have been training for the space mission for the last five years in Russian and Indian facilities.
Speaking at the gathering, PM Modi, said, "They are not just four names or individuals, they are four 'shakti’ of carrying the aspirations of 140 crore Indians into space. An Indian is going into space after 40 years. However, now, the time, the countdown as well as the rocket belong to us.”
Views from the #Indian astronauts' training programme during their time in Russia.
— ISRO InSight (@ISROSight) February 27, 2024
• Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair
• Group Captain Ajit Krishnan
• Group Captain Angad Prathap
• Wing Commander Shubhansku Shukla#Gaganyaan #ISRO pic.twitter.com/833zX4nLJG
Introducing the astronaut-designates, PM Modi stated that their names have been conjoined with the country's success and they symbolize trust, courage, valor, and discipline of today’s India. He lauded their dedication and spirit towards training, adding that they are the representatives of India’s Amrit generation that never gives up and shows the strength to challenge all adversities.
Highlighting the need for good mental health for this mission, the Prime Minister noted the role of yoga as part of the training module. He also conveyed his best wishes to all the staff trainers from ISRO associated with the Gaganyaan project.
He further expressed some concerns about the celebrity attention to the four astronaut-designates, which can create disturbance in their training. He appealed for cooperation with the astronaut-designates and their families so that they continue their training without distraction.
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