By Gulshan Luthra & R. Anil Kumar
New Delhi, February 27. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reviewed the progress of Gaganyaan Mission and bestowed ‘Astronaut Wings’ to the four astronaut-designates during his visit to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), at Thiruananthapuram, in Kerala.
Addressing the gathering Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that in the new Kaal Chakra, India is continuously expanding its Space in the global order, and this is clearly visible in our Space Programmes, he stated.
The four astronaut-designates are not just four names or individuals, they are four ‘Shakti’, carrying the aspirations of 140 crore Indians into Space, PM added.
Their names have been conjoined with India’s success and they symbolize the Trust, Courage, Valour and discipline of today’s India, the PM termed.
After 40 years, in this Amritkaal, an Indian is going to Space, but now the time, the countdown and the rocket is our own, PM Modi said.
As India is set to become the top 3 economy of the world, the same time the Gaganyaan mission is going to take our space sector to greater heights, the Prime Minister stated.
Meanwhile, the 4-astronaut-designates selected for this Gaganyaan Mission are Group Capt. Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, a native of Thiruvazhiyad, in Kerala.
A 47-year old (Born on August 26,1976), Nair, is an alumnus of National Defence Academy and recipient of ‘Sword of Honour’ at Air Force Academy.
Gp.Capt. Nair was commissioned on December 19, 1998 in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
He is a Category A Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with 3000 hours of flying experience.
Capt. Nair has flown variety of Aircrafts including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, among others.
GP Capt. Nair is also the alumnus of United States Staff College and DS at DSSC, Wellington and FIS, Tambaram.
Capt. Nair has commanded a premier fighter Su-30 Squadran.
Gp. Capt. Ajit Krishnan, a native of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is an alumnus of National Defence Academy. The 42 year old (April 19, 1982), Gp Capt. Ajit Krishnan is a recipient of President’s Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at Air Force Academy.
Commissioned on June 21, 2003, in the fighter stream of IAF, Capt. Krishnan is a Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with 2900 hours of flying experience and has flown various Aircrafts that includes Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Dornier, An-32 among other Aircrafts. Gp Capt. Krishnan, too is an alumnus of DSSC, Wellington.
Gp Capt. Angad Pratap born in Prayagraj is an alumnus of National Defence Academy.
The 42 year old, (July 17, 1982) Gp Capt. Pratap was commissioned on December 18, 2004, in the fighter stream of IAF.
Gp. Capt. Pratap is a Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with 2000 hours of flying experience and has flown aircrafts that includes Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier and An-32 and so on.
Wg. Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, a native of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh is an alumnus of National Defence Academy.
The 38-year old (Born on October 10, 1985) was commissioned on June 17, 2006 in to the fighter stream of IAF.
Wg. Cdr. Shukla is a Fighter Combat Leader and a Test Pilot with 2000 hours of flying experience and has flown aircrafts that includes Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32 among others.
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