Gaganyaan mission: All about the 4 IAF officers who were bestowed 'astronaut wings' by PM Modi

These astronaut-designates are Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Shubhanshu Shukla, representing the aspirations of 1.40 billion people, according to PM Modi.

Ajay Joseph

First Published Feb 27, 2024, 2:09 PM IST

In a significant revelation during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (February 27) revealed the names of four astronauts who are undergoing training for India's inaugural human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.

These astronaut-designates are Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Shubhanshu Shukla, representing the aspirations of 1.40 billion people, according to PM Modi.

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Who are the four chosen ones?

1. Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair: Born on August 26, 1976, in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair is an accomplished alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and was honored with the Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. Commissioned on December 19, 1998, in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF), he holds the position of a Cat A Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot, boasting approximately 3000 hours of flying experience. Nair has piloted various aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, and more. Additionally, he is a graduate of the United States Staff College and has commanded a premier fighter Su-30 Squadron.

2. Ajit Krishnan: Born on April 19, 1982, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Ajit Krishnan is another distinguished alumnus of NDA, receiving the President's Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. Commissioned on June 21, 2003, in the fighter stream of IAF, Krishnan serves as a Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot, accumulating around 2900 hours of flying experience. His repertoire includes piloting various aircraft like Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Dornier, An-32, and more. He is also an alumnus of DSSC, Wellington.

3. Angad Prathap: Angad Pratap was born on July 17, 1982, in Prayagraj and is an NDA alumnus commissioned on December 18, 2004, in the fighter stream of IAF. As a Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot, he has approximately 2000 hours of flying experience, covering a range of aircraft such as Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, and others.

4. Shubhanshu Shukla: Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla graduated from NDA and was commissioned on June 17, 2006, in the fighter stream of IAF. Holding the positions of a Fighter Combat Leader and a Test Pilot, he boasts around 2000 hours of flying experience, navigating diverse aircraft like Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, and more.

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The Gaganyaan project aims to showcase India’s human spaceflight capability by launching a three-member crew into an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission. The astronauts are expected to return to Earth by landing in Indian sea waters.

Last Updated Feb 27, 2024, 4:02 PM IST