Where are the four Gaganyaan Mission astronauts as Operation Sindoor is paused?
India's Gaganyaan mission, aimed at sending the country's first astronauts into space, has seen a temporary pause in its crew training activities, with intensive mission-specific training now scheduled to resume in 2026, a year ahead of the planned launch in early 2027.This update comes amid various developments involving the four astronaut-designates selected for the mission.The four astronauts-Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla, Prashanth B Nair, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap-have taken different paths recently.advertisement
Shubhanshu Shukla and Prashanth B Nair are currently in the United States preparing for the Axiom-4 mission, set to launch on May 29, 2025.This opportunity will provide them valuable spaceflight experience ahead of Gaganyaan's maiden crewed flight.Meanwhile, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan was recalled to his Indian Air Force unit following Operation Sindoor, that heightened tensions with Pakistan pushing the two countries on brink of a war. His return to active military duty has temporarily interrupted his Gaganyaan training, although he remains committed to the mission and is expected to continue training until the launch.
Gaganyaan's uncrewed test flights scheduled for 2025 and 2026. (Photo: Isro)
advertisementMeanwhile, Group Captain Angad Pratap is on study leave pursuing a PhD, furthering his academic credentials before resuming astronaut training.Pratap has been vocal about the rigorous physical, psychological, and academic demands of astronaut preparation, highlighting the intense nature of the training regimen.The Gaganyaan mission itself has entered its final phase, with uncrewed test flights scheduled for 2025 and 2026. The human-rated LVM3 rocket and crucial modules like the Crew Escape System are undergoing final tests.ISRO aims to launch the first crewed mission in the first quarter of 2027, sending a three-member crew into low-Earth orbit for a multi-day mission before safely returning them to Earth.The astronaut training program will intensify in 2026 at the Astronaut Training Centre in Bengaluru, focusing on advanced simulations and survival techniques essential for spaceflight.This phased approach ensures the astronauts are mission-ready while balancing current operational and academic commitments.Must Watch
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