Operation Sindoor: IAF recalls Gaganyaan astronaut Ajit Krishnan amid India-Pakistan tensions

The Gaganyaan mission, spearheaded by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), aims to send three astronauts into low Earth orbit for a three-day mission.

Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, one of the four Indian Air Force (IAF) officers selected for India's maiden human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan, has been urgently recalled by the Air Force as military tensions escalate with Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. Krishnan was attending the Global Space Exploration Conference in Delhi when he received orders to report back.

Speaking briefly to a news organisation, Krishnan confirmed the recall. "I have been called back by the IAF. You know, because of the current situation," he said. These strikes were conducted in response to the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.

Krishnan, a decorated IAF officer and seasoned test pilot, is a central figure in India's ambitious space programme. The Gaganyaan mission, spearheaded by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), aims to send three astronauts into low Earth orbit for a three-day mission. The first crewed flight is now expected in early 2027, after a series of uncrewed tests.

Currently, Krishnan and fellow astronaut-in-training Angad Pratap are undergoing mission-specific training in India, while the other two crew members, Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth B Nair, are training in the United States for the Axiom-4 mission. Despite geopolitical pressures, the astronaut training programme is progressing steadily with support from both Indian and Russian space agencies. A dedicated astronaut training centre is also being set up in Bengaluru to support future missions.

Group Captain Krishnan, who joined the IAF in 2003, brings extensive flight experience to the programme. He has clocked nearly 2,900 flying hours on high-performance aircraft such as the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29 and has served as both a test pilot and a flying instructor.

The Gaganyaan programme has already achieved several milestones, including successful abort mission tests and uncrewed flights. Two additional uncrewed missions are planned, one of which will include a test with a humanoid robot named Vyomitra. These preparatory steps are crucial for ensuring the safety and success of India’s first human spaceflight.