Today, Prime Minister Modi told us the names of the four astronauts who will be going to space as part of the Gaganyaan Mission. They are Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair, Wing Commander Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishna, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla. The Gaganyaan Mission will start in 2025. It will send two or three astronauts into space, circling Earth in a low orbit about 400 kilometers above the ground.
Prime Minister Modi checked how the Gaganyaan Mission is going. These four astronauts are from the Indian Air Force. They went to Russia for training for this mission. Right now, they are getting ready for space at a special training center.
What is the Gaganyaan Mission?
It’s India’s first space mission. It will send astronauts into space for a short time in a low orbit. It starts in 2025, sending two or three astronauts into space about 400 kilometers above Earth. They’ll come back safely after spending two or three days in space, landing in the Indian Ocean. This year is really important for the mission, and there will be many test flights.
Now, let’s see what these four astronauts do:
Prashant Balakrishnan Nair: He’s a Group Captain, 47 years old, from Kerala. He finished school in Kuwait and went to the National Defense Academy. He became an officer in the Air Force in 1999. He flew Sukhoi fighter jets.
Shubhanshu Shukla: He’s one of the four astronauts for the Gaganyaan Mission. He trained in Moscow, Russia. He was born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, UP. He studied at the National Defense Academy and joined the Air Force in 2006. He’s flown many different planes.
Ajit Krishna: He’s a Group Captain chosen for the mission. He was born on April 19, 1982, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He joined the Air Force in 2004 and has flown many planes.
Angad Pratap: According to ISRO, Wing Commander Angad Pratap went to Russia for training with the others. He was born on July 17, 1982, in Prayagraj. He joined the Air Force in 2003 and has flown many planes.
What did Prime Minister Modi say about them?
Prime Minister Modi wants us all to congratulate the astronauts. Today, we got to know the four astronauts for the Gaganyaan Mission. They are more than just names and people; they represent the dreams of 140 crore Indians going into space. After 40 years, an Indian is going to space again. This time, it’s our time, our countdown, and our rocket.