India is all set for the much-awaited Gaganyaan Mission, the maiden human spaceflight programme. The manned mission, for which PM Narendra Modi announced names of four crew members, will be launched in 2024-2025.
The four astronauts chosen are from the Indian Air Force, namely Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla.
Lucknow basks in the glory of its newest hero
Views from the #Indian astronauts’ training programme during their time in Russia.
• Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair
• Group Captain Ajit Krishnan
• Group Captain Angad Prathap
• Wing Commander Shubhansku Shukla#Gaganyaan #ISRO pic.twitter.com/833zX4nLJG— ISRO InSight (@ISROSight) February 27, 2024
Among the bravehearts is Shubhanshu Shukla, Lucknow’s pride in the mission. Born and raised in Lucknow’s Triveninagar, Shuka is affectionately called ‘Gunjan’ at home. As a thrill-seeking teenager, his journey from the corridors of City Montessori School to National Defence Academy and then Indian Air Force is an inspiring one.
Commissioned into the Indian Air Force’s fighter stream in 2006, the wing commander honed his skills over the years and accumulated more than 2,000 hours of flying experience across a spectrum of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Jaguar, Dornier, among others.
“These are not just four names or four people. They are four powers who will carry the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians to space. I congratulate and wish them all the best,” the prime minister expressed.
As India awaits, with bated breath, for the space mission to launch, the four men are undergoing rigorous training to prepare them for an adventure of a lifetime.