NewsGate Press Network

Four top ranking Indian Air Force pilots are named as first ‘astronauts’ for Gaganyaan’s human space mission.

This far reaching development took place on Tuesday the 27th of February 2024 during Prime Minister Narandra Modi’s visit to Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

While at the campus of VSSC the Prime Minister inaugurated three important space infrastructure projects worth around Rs 1800 crores.

The projects include the SLV Integration Facility (PIF) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; the new ‘Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and Stage Test facility’ at ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri; and ‘Trisonic Wind Tunnel’ at VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram.

Modi also reviewed the progress of the Gaganyaan Mission and bestowed ‘astronaut wings’ to the four astronaut-designates.

The astronaut-designates are Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister started by calling for a standing ovation for the astronaut-designates as the hall reverberated with the chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai.

The Prime Minister recalled India’s Chandrayaan success as India became the first nation to land on the South Pole of the Moon.

“Today Shiv-Shakti Point is introducing the entire world to Indian prowess”, he said.

He called the introduction of the four Gaganyaan passengers, astronaut-designates, as a historic occasion.

“They are not just four names or individuals, they are four ‘Shakti’ of carrying the aspirations of 140 crore Indians into space”, the Prime Minister said.

He further said “An Indian is going into space after 40 years. However, now, the time, the countdown as well as the rocket belong to us.”

Gp Capt Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair was born in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala on 26 Aug 1976. He is alumnus of NDA and recipient of Sword of Honour at Air Force Academy.  He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1998 in the fighter stream of IAF.

He is a Cat A Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with approx 3000 hrs of flying experience.  He has flown variety of ac including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, etc.  He is also the alumnus of United States Staff College and a DS at DSSC, Wellington and FIS, Tambaram.  He has commanded a premier fighter Su-30 Sqn.

Gp Capt Ajit Krishnan was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 19 Apr 1982. He is alumnus of NDA and recipient of President’s Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at Air Force Academy.  He was commissioned on 21 Jun 2003 in the fighter stream of IAF.

He is Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with approx 2900 hrs of flying experience.  He has flown variety of ac including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-21, Mig-29, Jaguar, Dornier, An-32 etc.  He is also alumnus of DSSC, Wellington.

Gp Capt Angad Pratap was born in Prayagraj on 17 Jul 1982. He is alumnus of NDA and was commissioned on 18 Dec 2004 in the fighter stream of IAF.  He is a Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with approx 2000 hrs of flying experience.  He has flown variety of ac including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32 etc.

Wg Cdr Shubhanshu Shukla was born in Lucknow, UP on 10 Oct 1985.

He is alumnus of NDA and was commissioned on 17 Jun 2006 in the fighter stream of IAF.  He is a Fighter Combat Leader and a Test Pilot with approx 2000 hrs of flying experience.  He has flown variety of ac including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32 etc.