All You Need to Know About India’s Gaganyaan Mission and its IAF Astronauts

Four Indian Air Force (IAF) officials selected as astronauts for India's inaugural space flight, Gaganyaan, next year are fighter pilots, each boasting a minimum of 2000 hours of flying experience.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed the names of the designated astronauts during a review of the Gaganyaan mission's progress. The astronauts include Group Captain Prashanth Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, each conferred with astronaut wings.

What is the Gaganyaan mission?

The Gaganyaan project aims to launch a team of astronauts into space, orbiting 400 km above Earth for a three-day mission and safely returning them by landing in the Indian Ocean. According to ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), key elements for the Gaganyaan mission involve developing critical technologies such as a secure launch vehicle for astronauts, a life support system ensuring their comfort in space, an emergency escape mechanism, and comprehensive plans for their training, recovery, and medical care.

ISRO has been conducting various tests to prepare for the upcoming mission. In a significant October test last year, they successfully demonstrated the crew's ability to evacuate the rocket safely in the event of a malfunction. Following this milestone, the space agency announced plans for a test flight in 2024, deploying a robot into space, paving the way for human astronauts to embark on their journey in 2025.

The Gaganyaan project, named after the Sanskrit term for a vehicle to the sky, has been developed with a $1 billion investment, according to the BBC. If successful, India would become the fourth nation to achieve human spaceflight capability, joining the ranks of Russia, the US, and China.

Who are the astronauts?

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair stands as the most senior IAF official among the four chosen for the space mission. Born on August 26, 1976, in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, Group Captain Nair is a Category A Flying Instructor and a test pilot, accumulating approximately 3,000 hours of flying experience. Commissioned on December 19, 1998, in the fighter stream of IAF, he has piloted various fighter and transport aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. He has also commanded a premier fighter Su-30 Squadron. Additionally, Nair is an alumnus of the United States Staff College and has served as a DS at DSSC, Wellington, and FIS, Tambaram.

Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, born on April 19, 1982, in Chennai, received early recognition in his career, earning the President’s Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. Commissioned on June 21, 2003, in the IAF’s fighter stream and an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), he boasts approximately 2,900 hours of flying experience. Krishnan has served as a Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot, flying a range of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Dornier, and An-32. He is also an alumnus of DSSC, Wellington.

The third Group Captain, Angad Pratap, aged 42, is a Flying Instructor and Test Pilot with around 2,000 hours of flying experience. Commissioned on December 18, 2004, in the fighter stream of IAF, he has flown both fighter and transporter aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. Born on July 17, 1982, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, he is an NDA graduate.

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, is a Fighter Combat Leader and a Test Pilot with approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience. Commissioned on June 17, 2006, in the fighter stream after attending the NDA, he has piloted various aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.

Of the four pilots undergoing trials and tests to prepare for the mission, three will be launched into an orbit of 400 km for three days before safely returning to Earth by landing in Indian sea waters.

Technology and training for the Gaganyaan mission

According to ISRO, prioritizing human safety stands as the foremost objective for the Gaganyaan mission. To attain this objective, a variety of innovative technologies, encompassing engineering systems and human-centric systems, are currently in the developmental and implementation phases.

The Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru provides a comprehensive training regimen, including classroom instruction, physical fitness routines, simulator exercises, and flight suit training for the pilots. The training modules cover academic courses, Gaganyaan Flight Systems, microgravity familiarization through Parabolic Flights, aero-medical training, recovery and survival techniques, mastery of flight procedures, and training on Crew Training Simulators. Aero-medical training, regular flying practice, and yoga sessions constitute integral components of the training program.

Potential challenges to the mission

ISRO has underlined the primary objectives of ensuring a safe launch vehicle for the astronauts, a life support system to maintain their comfort in space, and a contingency plan for the crew's escape in emergencies. However, several potential challenges remain for the human space mission, including:

1. An escalating threat of space debris in low Earth orbits, leading to cabin depressurization in the crew module if a collision with small debris occurs.
2. The formidable task of creating a replication of Earth-like conditions within a confined crew module, as establishing an actual operational environment for humans in outer space proves nearly impossible.
3. Due to weight limitations for space travel, the development of a regenerative environment for essential resources like food, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and human waste presents a significant challenge.