During his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened three significant space infrastructure projects totalling around 1,800 crore rupees. These projects include the 'Trisonic Wind Tunnel' at VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram; the new 'Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and Stage Test facility' at ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri; and the PSLV Integration Facility at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Along with reviewing the Gaganyaan mission preparations, Mr. Modi disclosed the identities of the four astronaut-designates chosen for the trip. They are Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair.
Among the four astronauts who will take part in India's first crewed space flights is Shubanshu Shulka, a Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force.
Shubhanshu Shukla's Career Background
The Indian Air Force's Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) included Shukla in their astronaut selection process in 2019. Afterwards, ISRO and IAM shortlisted him for the final four. In 2020, he and three other selected astronauts travelled to Russia for basic training. In 2021, basic training was finished. went back to India and trained at Bangalore's Astronaut Training Facility.
At ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, on February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the formal announcement of his inclusion in the astronaut team. This was the first time his name had been made public as a member of the astronaut crew for India's first space voyage.
Also Read: Who is Angad Pratap, the Astronaut selected for Gaganyaan Mission?
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