Who are the four Gaganyaan astronauts? All you need to know about the IAF test pilots

Who are the four Gaganyaan astronauts? All you need to know about the IAF test pilots

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the names of the four astronauts who will be part of India’s first manned space flight mission, Gaganyaan, slated to be launched in 2024-25.

The four astronauts — Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla — are currently undergoing training for the historic mission.

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair

Nair was born in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala on August 26, 1976. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and recipient of the Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy.

He was commissioned on December 19, 1998, in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

He is a Cat-A flying instructor and a test pilot with approximately 3,000 hours of flying experience. Nair has flown a variety of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, etc. He is also the alumnus of United States Staff College and a DS at DSSC, Wellington and FIS, Tambaram.

He has also commanded a premier fighter Su-30 squadron.

Group Captain Ajit Krishnan

Krishnan was born in Tamil Nadu’s Chennai on April 19, 1982. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and recipient of President’s Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at Air Force Academy.

He was commissioned on June 21, 2003, in the fighter stream of the IAF.

Krishnan is a flying instructor and a test pilot with approximately 2,900 hours of flying experience.

He has flown a variety of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-21, Mig-29, Jaguar, Dornier, An-32, etc. He is also an alumnus of DSSC, Wellington.

Group Captain Angad Pratap

Pratap was born in Prayagraj on July 17, 1982. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned on December 18, 2004, in the fighter stream of the IAF.

He is a flying instructor and a test pilot with approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience.

He has flown a variety of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, etc.

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla

Shukla was born in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow on October 10, 1985. He is also an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned on June 17, 2006, in the fighter stream of the IAF.

He is a fighter combat leader and a test pilot with approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience.

Shukla has flown a variety of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, etc.

(With inputs from agencies)

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