PM Modi to review Gaganyaan mission today, bestow ‘astronaut wings’ to four test pilots

The Gaganyaan Mission is India’s first human space flight program for which extensive preparations are underway at various ISRO centres.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Kerala visit on February 27, will visit the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram and review the progress of 'Gaganyaan', India's human spaceflight mission.

He will also inaugurate three important space infrastructure projects worth about Rs 1,800 crore, as per a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The three space infra projects include 'PSLV integration facility' at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, 'semi-cryogenics integrated engine and stage test facility' at ISRO propulsion complex in Mahendragiri, and 'Trisonic wind tunnel' at VSSC.

According to a Times of India report, the prospective four astronauts-select, all either wing commanders or group captains, are  Prashanth Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Chauhan (full name not immediately available). PM Modi will officially reveal the names of the astronauts and bestow ‘astronaut wings’ to these four test pilots.

PM Modi will be on a two-day tour of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, commencing on February 27, and inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for a slew of development projects worth more than Rs 24,000 crore across the three states.

Also Read | Major milestone: Cryogenic engine for Gaganyaan missions now human-rated, says ISRO

The PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota will help boost the frequency of PSLV launches from 6 to 15 per year. This state-of-the-art facility can also cater to the launches of SSLV and other small launch vehicles designed by private space companies.

The Gaganyaan Mission is India’s first human space flight program for which extensive preparations are underway at various ISRO centres.

ISRO has also completed the acceptance tests of the flight engine identified for the first unmanned Gaganyaan (G1) mission tentatively scheduled for the second quarter of 2024.