Carrying forward this adventurous spirit, India celebrated a historic achievement with the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission in 2023. Now, ISRO has its eyes set on the next exciting venture: ‘Gaganyaan’. This mission aims to demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capabilities by sending a crew of three into orbit and returning them safely to Earth, marking a significant advancement in the country’s space exploration efforts.
For all the space enthusiasts who dream of joining ISRO and contributing to groundbreaking missions, here’s everything you need to know about India’s thrilling journey. Gaganyaan MissionSo get ready to know in detail and find out how you can be a part of India’s next big leap into space!
Overview of Gaganyaan Mission
The Gaganyaan mission aims to send a crew of three astronauts to an orbit 400 km above the Earth for a three-day mission. The astronauts will then return safely after landing in Indian sea waters. This mission is an important step towards establishing India’s presence in human space flight and enhancing its capabilities in space exploration.
meet the astronauts
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proudly introduced the four astronauts for the Gaganyaan mission:
Group Captain Prashant Nair Group Captain Angad Pratap Group Captain Ajit Krishnan Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
All these astronauts are experienced Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilots from the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in Bengaluru, who were selected four years ago. In his speech, PM Modi highlighted the importance of this mission and said, “After 40 years an Indian will go to space, but this time, the time is ours, the countdown is also ours. In the progress of every country, there comes a time when the present introduces its people to the future. Today is such a time for India.”
Objectives and goals of the mission
The primary objective of the Gaganyaan mission is to demonstrate India’s indigenous capability to launch human spaceflight missions into low Earth orbit (LEO). The Indian government has approved two unmanned missions followed by one manned mission under this program.
The major goals include:
- Development of critical technologies: This mission requires the development of man-capable launch vehicles, life support systems and crew protection mechanisms for emergency situations.
- Demonstrating crew safety: Ensuring the safe return of the crew is paramount, which includes rigorous testing and validation of all safety protocols and systems.
Extensive training for astronauts
The four selected astronauts are undergoing extensive training at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru, which includes:
- Classroom training: Covering theoretical aspects of space flight and mission protocols.
- Physical fitness training: Ensuring that astronauts meet the rigorous physical demands of space travel.
- Simulator Training: Providing practical experience with mission simulations.
- Flight suit training: preparing astronauts for the operational aspects of their space suits.
Apart from training in India, the astronauts also underwent extensive training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia. This historic centre is famous for training India’s first astronaut Rakesh Sharma in 1984. The combination of domestic and international training ensures that the astronauts are well prepared for the challenges of space flight.
eligibility criteria
According to the official website of the Gaganyaan programme, astronaut trainees for the first manned Gaganyaan mission are selected from a group of test pilots. The selection criteria jointly set by ISRO and the Indian Air Force include flight experience, fitness, psychological and aeromedical assessment (including anthropometric parameters).
looking ahead
The Gaganyaan mission is a significant leap for India’s space programme. It not only aims to demonstrate human space flight capabilities but also serves as a stepping stone for future space exploration missions. As India prepares to send its astronauts into space, the world will be watching this remarkable journey, which will write a new chapter in the history of space exploration.
Stay tuned for more updates as ISRO continues preparations for the historic Gaganyaan mission that will take India one step closer to the stars.
