It has been revealed that Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, known for his expertise as a Sukhoi fighter pilot, has been selected to lead the Gaganyaan mission as its commander. An alumnus of the 163rd Course at the National Defence Academy, Group Captain Nair joined the Indian Air Force on December 19, 1998.
He has gathered around 3,000 hours of flight experience, navigating through a diverse fleet that includes the powerful Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, and various other aircraft. His role as a Category A Flying Instructor and Test Pilot highlights his crucial position in leading a top-tier Su-30 Squadron.Group Captain Prashanth B Nair will head the Gaganyaan Mission.
He was born on August 26, 1976, in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, and he tied the knot with Malayalam actor Lena on January 17, 2024
Four astronauts have been chosen for the Gaganyaan crewed mission: Group Captain Prashant Bala Krishnan Nair, Group Captain Angad Prathap, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla. It is anticipated that all four astronauts are from the Indian Air Force.
The four Indian Air Force pilots selected for the Gaganyaan mission underwent 13 months of training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Russia. Looking ahead, ISRO plans to prioritize female Air Force pilots or female scientists for crew positions in future Gaganyaan 2 manned space missions.
The Gaganyaan mission marks the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) inaugural endeavor to launch Indian citizens into space using a domestically developed launch vehicle. Serving as a demonstration project, Gaganyaan aims to orbit three crew members at an altitude of 400 km for 3 days, ensuring their safe return. With this achievement, India joins the ranks of the U.S., Russia, and China as the fourth country with human spaceflight capability.
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