The Emerging Heroes of Gaganyaan

Mission Gaganyaan is India's first crewed space mission, which is set to launch in 2025. It proves to be India's first human spaceflight project, which aims to demonstrate ISRO's human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members on a low-Earth orbit of 400km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely by landing in the Indian Ocean. For the mission, ISRO has reconfigured its three-stage medium-lift Rocket Launch Vehicle Mark-3 or LVM3 (formerly known as GSLV Mark-3) to meet human rating requirements and christened it “Human-Rated LVM3” or HLVM3. India also plans to conduct its first uncrewed orbital test flight for its Gaganyaan human spaceflight program in July this year. To date, only three countries, namely, the erstwhile Soviet Union, the United States of America, and China have so far achieved the feat of sending manned missions into space on their spacecraft. If the mission of Gaganyaan succeeds, India will be the fourth country to do so.

Cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma remains the only Indian to ever travel to space. However, he flew onboard the Russian made Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. It will be after 40 years that an Indian will be travelling to space again. However, this time, the rocket as well as the countdown will all be ours. One of the things that we should be proud of is that most of the equipment of the Gaganyaan is made in India. The goal of launching the Gaganyaan mission was in 2022, but various factors ranging from difficulties in the realization of complex technologies to COVID-19 and Disruptions in global supply chains due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict have upset the plans.

On February 27, 2024, our Honourable Prime Minister announced the names of four Indian Air Force (IAF) Officers who would be part of this mission. He bestowed ‘astronaut wings’ on these four astronaut designates at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. India's four astronaut designates selected for the ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission are undergoing intense training at the Indian Space Research Organization's crew training facility in Bengaluru. The mission-specific preparations commenced after the four astronauts completed their general spaceflight training in Russia at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. They are being trained on aero-medical aspects, recovery, and survival procedures in addition to academic courses on Gaganyaan flight systems. Their training sessions also include classroom sessions, simulator training, microgravity familiarization, survival drills, and flying practices. Out of the four astronaut designates, or "vyomnauts,” being trained, three will be selected for the final mission. The other one is likely to fly to the International Space Station later this year as a part of a NASA mission, following the agreement between the Space agencies in India and the USA last year.

In order to understand this mission in a better way, we must take a look at these 4 personalities and the reason behind their selection for this mission.

1. Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair-

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair hails from Nemmara village in Kerala's Palakkad district. Born on August 26, 1976, he is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and recipient of the Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. He was commissioned on December 19, 1998. The fighter pilot is a Category ‘A’ flying instructor and a test pilot with approximately 3,000 hours of flying experience. As an experienced fighter pilot, he has flown a variety of fighter jets, including the Su-30 MKI, MIG-21, MiG-29, and Hawk, as well as the Dornier and AN-32 in over 25 years of his career in the Indian Air Force. He has commanded a premier fighter Su-30 squadron in the Northeast. Nair has also trained at the United States Staff College and has been a directing staff member at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington.

2. Group Captain Ajit Krishnan-

Born in Chennai on April 19, 1982, the fighter pilot is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and a recipient of the President's Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. He is also an alumnus of DSSC, Wellington. He was commissioned in June 2003 in the fighter stream of the IAF. The officer is a flying instructor and a test pilot with about 2,900 hours of flying experience who has flown a variety of aircraft including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, Mig-29, Jaguar, and Dornier AN-32.

3. Group Captain Angad Pratap-

Born in Prayagraj on July 17, 1982, he completed his schooling at the Army Public School and went on to graduate from the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 2003. He was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF in December 2004. The officer is a flying instructor and a test pilot with about 2,000 hours of flying experience who has flown Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and AN-32, among other aircraft. Group Captain Pratap’s selection for the Gaganyaan mission is a testament to his skills and expertise as a pilot.

4. Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla-

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla was born in Lucknow on October 10, 1985. At the young age of 16, he successfully cleared the NDA examination and is hence an alumnus of the National Defence Academy. He was commissioned by the IAF in 2006. He is a fighter combat leader and a test pilot with about 2,000 hours of flying experience and has flown Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and AN-32, among other aircraft. At the age of 38, he holds the distinction of being the youngest on the team. His extensive experience showcases his expertise and readiness for the upcoming space mission.

During this training period, life was not always easy for these four people. They had to undergo rigorous training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Russia, lasting about a year, even amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The only thing that keeps motivating them to undergo such a harsh training period is the feeling of nationalism. They symbolize the trust, courage, valour, and discipline of today’s India.

ISRO has always been a part of our country's pride and I am sure that it will continue to make India proud on international platforms with their space initiatives. It has indulged in the development of India in space research and technology. I am hopeful that the Gaganyaan will take its place in the Gagan of success. Through this blog, I would like to acknowledge everyone who contributed to Mission Gaganyaan. The countdown of the rocket inspires lakhs of children in India, those making paper planes today dream of becoming scientists. Initiatives like Gaganyaan have empowered India to expand its space in the global order. Let us hope that the Gaganyaan mission will be an exemplary success in showcasing India’s potential in the field of space research.

 - Swaraj Wandre