Insider Brief:
- India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi announced the four Vyomanauts who were selected for the Gaganyaan mission, aimed at launching the country’s first manned spaceflight.
- The mission is set to launch between 2024 and 2025.
- PM Modi has also inaugurated three projects aimed at bolstering India’s space capabilities.
- Image credit: Narendra Modi via X
India’s Gaganyaan mission, aimed at launching the country’s first manned spaceflight, took a significant leap forward as Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the four Vyomanauts – a moniker derived from vyoma, the Sanskrit word for space explained by Ben Ogden – selected for the historic journey. Group Captain P Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander S Shukla were given astronaut wings during a ceremony at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram.
Scheduled for launch between 2024-25, the Gaganyaan Mission marks a pivotal moment in India’s space exploration endeavours. Extensive preparations are underway across various Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) centers to ensure the success of the landmark mission.
Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, the selected Vyomanauts underwent rigorous training in Russia’s Zvyozdny Gorodok city, followed by continued training at an ISRO facility, acquainting themselves with the intricacies of the mission.
PM Modi has also inaugurated three projects aimed at bolstering India’s space capabilities. These projects include the Trisonic Wind Tunnel at VSSC, the Semi-Cryogenic Integrated Engine and Stage Test Facility at ISRO’s propulsion complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, and the PSLV Integration Facility at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota. With a combined investment of approximately Rs 1,800 crore, these endeavours signify India’s commitment to fostering world-class infrastructure in the space sector.
The Gaganyaan project, which will demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capabilities, entails launching a crew of four members into a 400 km orbit for a three-day mission, with a safe return to Earth, including a landing in Indian waters. ISRO recently achieved a significant milestone in the project by completing the final round of ground qualification tests on February 13, 2024.
According to ISRO’s official statement, the final test, conducted at the High Altitude Test Facility at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, marked the successful culmination of a series of vacuum ignition tests simulating flight conditions.
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