One Gaganyaan crew member to visit International Space Station in August: Union minister

The ISS visit is a joint mission between ISRO and NASA, minister Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Published on: Jul 27, 2024, 09:37:30 IST

By HT News Desk, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

One of the four crew members selected for Gaganyaan, the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) first human-crewed spaceflight, will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) after August, according to Union minister Jitendra Singh.

In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed the four astronauts selected for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission.

Also Read: ISRO completes human rating of its CE20 cryogenic engine for Gaganyaan mission

The space station visit will be a joint exercise involving ISRO and NASA, the Indian space agency's US counterpart, the minister informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

“ISRO is pursuing a joint mission with NASA to ISS, wherein one ‘Gaganyaatri’ will undertake space travel to ISS,” Singh said.

“This is a collaborative effort of ISRO, NASA, and Axiom Space, a NASA-identified private entity. Recently, ISRO signed a space flight agreement with Axiom Space for this joint mission,” he added.

Also Read: ISRO identifies 48 backup points for safe return of Gaganyaan astronauts

The statement by Singh, the Minister of State (MoS) for Science and Technology, came on a query by Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, about the ‘Axiom-4 Mission,’ astronauts, and the Gaganyaan mission.

As per the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this will be the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS, and is scheduled to be launched no earlier than August 2024 from the agency's Florida-based Kennedy Space Center.

In February, prime minister Narendra Modi revealed the four ‘Gaganyaatris' – elite fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF). They are group captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap, and wing commander Shubanshu Shukla.

Meanwhile Singh, the Union minister, also told the House that the IAF pilots are undergoing training at ISRO's Astronauts Training Facility in Bengaluru.

Also Read: For Gaganyaan astronauts, ISRO may opt for Russian-made spacesuits

“They have completed two out of three semesters of their training programme. Independent training simulator and static mockup simulators have been realised,” he stated.

The three-day Gaganyaan project is expected to launch next year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Gaganyaan Mission

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.