India on Tuesday, February 27, announced the names of four Indian pilots for the Gaganyaan mission to space. They are Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Subhanshu Shukla. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced their names during his visit to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram.
PM Modi congratulated these four pilots who wanted to be astronauts and said they are the pride of India. "I am happy that today I got the opportunity to meet these astronauts and present them in front of the country. I want to congratulate them on behalf of the entire country. You are the pride of today's India."
Also Watch: Meet the Gaganyaan crew
Gaganyaan mission is India's first manned space mission. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is aiming at a launch in 2024-2025.
"A while ago, the country saw four Gaganyaan travellers. They are not just four names or four human beings, they are the four powers that are going to take the aspirations of 140 crore Indians to space. An Indian is going to space, after 40 years. This time, the time is ours, the countdown is ours and the rocket is also ours..." Modi said.
Modi added that India will have its own space station in space in 2035. "Indian astronaut will land on the surface of the moon on our own rocket," Modi said.
He also inaugurated three important space infrastructure projects worth about ₹1,800 crore. The three 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.
The PSLV integration facility at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre will help in boosting the frequency of PSLV launches from six 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.
With inputs from PTI
First Published: Feb 27, 2024 12:42 PM IST
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