There is groundbreaking news in India's space exploration journey as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the names of the astronauts selected for India's first human space flight program. PM Modi made this announcement today during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

The chosen quartet, Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, (Group Captain) Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Shubanshu Shukla, are wing commanders or group captains in the Indian Air Force (IAF). They  possess a wealth of experience as test pilots, equipped to navigate the complexities of space exploration with precision and resilience.

The astronauts have been undergoing rigorous training at ISRO's astronaut training facility in Bengaluru, having been meticulously selected and trained at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine under the auspices of the IAF.

Preparations for the Gaganyaan Mission are in full swing across various Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) centers, with a targeted launch window between 2024 and 2025. 

Crucial to their training was a memorandum of understanding signed between ISRO and Glavkosmos, a subsidiary of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, facilitating the astronauts' training at Russia's Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre from February 2020 to March 2021. This international collaboration underscores India's commitment to leveraging global expertise in advancing its space exploration endeavors.

PM Modi's visit also marked the inauguration of three pivotal projects aimed at bolstering India's space capabilities. The unveiling of the Trisonic Wind Tunnel at VSSC, the Semi-Cryogenic Integrated Engine and Stage Test Facility at ISRO's propulsion complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, and the PSLV Integration Facility at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota signifies a significant leap forward in India's pursuit of excellence in space technology.

With a combined investment of approximately Rs 1,800 crore, these state-of-the-art facilities underscore India's determination to establish world-class infrastructure for space exploration and research. ISRO's successful completion of acceptance tests for the flight engine earmarked for the first unmanned Gaganyaan mission, further underscores the nation's strides in space technology.

The Gaganyaan mission itself is poised to be a landmark achievement for India, showcasing the nation's prowess in human spaceflight. Scheduled to launch astronauts into an orbit 400 kilometers above the Earth for a three-day mission, the endeavor symbolizes India's commitment to pushing the boundaries of exploration and discovery.

Looking ahead, India's ambitions in space extend far beyond the Gaganyaan mission. With aspirations to establish the 'Bharatiya Antariksha Station' by 2035 and to send the first Indian to the Moon by 2040, the nation is charting a course toward unprecedented milestones in space exploration.

In unveiling the astronauts for the Gaganyaan mission and inaugurating key projects, PM Modi has heralded a new era of space exploration for India, one characterized by ambition, innovation, and international collaboration. As these endeavors take flight, they pave the way for a future where Indian ingenuity reaches new heights among the stars.