Meet The Astronaut Designates Selected For ISRO Gaganyaan Mission — All 4 From Indian Air Force

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair: A Cat A Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with approximately 3,000 hrs of flying experience

Born in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, on Aug 26 1976, Gp Capt Nair is an alumnus of NDA and recipient of Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy

Group Captain Ajit Krishnan: Flying Instructor and Test Pilot with approximately 2,900 hours of flying experience

Gp Capt Ajit Krishnan was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Apr 19, 1982. He is an alumnus of NDA and recipient of the President’s Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy

Group Captain Angad Pratap: A Flying Instructor and Test Pilot with approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience

Born in Prayagraj on July 17, 1982, Gp Capt Angad Pratap is an alumnus of NDA and was commissioned in the fighter stream of IAF on Dec 18, 2004

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla: A Fighter Combat Leader and Test Pilot with approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience

Wg Cdr Shukla was born in Lucknow, UP, on Oct 10, 1985. He is an alumnus of NDA and was commissioned in the fighter stream of IAF on June 17, 2006.

The first crewed mission of the Gaganyaan programme is scheduled to be launched in 2025