Latest news with #PrasanthBalakrishnanNair
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
CSIR-CFTRI prepares special menu for Gaganyatris
BENGALURU: With over a year left for the launch of the Gaganyaan mission, training of the chosen Gaganyatris has started and preparation of the spacecraft has gained momentum. The food the Gaganyatris will carry with them is also being planned. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Central Food Technology Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI) officials in Dehradun and Mysuru are working on special menus for the four chosen astronauts on the mission, scheduled for launch in 2027. Discussions are on with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to craft nutritious wholesome meals which occupy meagre space. In 2024, the names of Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Shubhanshu Shukla, Angad Pratap and Ajit Krishnan were announced for the Gaganyaan mission. Shukla and Nair were also part of the Axiom-4 space mission that concluded on July 15. Shukla was the mission pilot, and also the first Indian to spend 20 days in space, with 18 days on the International Space Station. A CSIR-CFTRI official said, 'The biggest challenge we are facing is similar to what every Indian suffers, no matter how well trained. Food should not just be nutritious but also sumptuous and wholesome. It should excite the taste buds and fill the stomach. Indians are particular about taste, so food should be good and have the required calories. Dairy and frozen products are ideal, but the form (shape and taste) is being worked on.' The laboratory recently developed millet tablets, where four pills can be taken as a meal and ensure a complete diet. Twelve pills (four pills, three times a day) meet the day's nutrition requirements, but this alone is not sufficient for astronauts. The team is working on paratha pills and conducting tests on powdered form or reformulated Indian dishes like sambar-rice, dosa and chapati. Formulations are being created without compromising on quality and aesthetics. The official said inputs will be taken from Shukla, who returned to India on August 16. Though Shukla had carried gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, vegetable biryani, dal, rajma-rice, khichdi, roti and mango nectar to space, he said he missed his food.
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Science
- Times of Oman
'Moment of pride for India': Union minister Jitendra Singh welcomes Shubhanshu Shukla in Delhi
New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, on Sunday welcomed Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla upon his arrival in Delhi, calling it a proud moment for India and ISRO. In a post on X, Singh wrote, "A moment of pride for India! A moment of glory for ISRO! A moment of gratitude to the dispensation that facilitated this under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. India's Space glory touches the Indian soil... as the iconic son of Mother India, Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla lands at Delhi in the early hours of morning today. Accompanying him, another equally accomplished Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, one of the astronauts selected for India's first Human mission Gaganyaan who was India's designated backup for the mission to the International Space Station ISS." "Privileged to receive both of them at the New Delhi Airport along with Delhi CM Smt. Rekha Gupta, ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan and later welcomed by a group of students," he added. Shukla, who returned to Earth on July 15 after completing NASA's Axiom-4 (AX-4) space mission, landed in Delhi in the early hours of Sunday. He was received at Delhi's IGI airport by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, as well as his family, including his wife and son. Shukla was part of NASA's Axiom-4 Space Mission, which took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US, on June 25. He returned to Earth on July 15, splashing down off the coast of California. He became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space. Ahead of his return to India, Shukla shared an emotional note on X, reflecting on his year-long training and the bonds he built during the mission. "As I sit on the plane to come back to India I have a mix of emotions running through my heart. I feel sad leaving a fantastic group of people behind who were my friends and family for the past one year during this mission. I am also excited about meeting all my friends, family and everyone in the country for the first time post mission. I guess this is what life is - everything all at once," he wrote.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Malayalam actress once-secret husband is astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Gaganyaan crewmate. Why they kept their marriage hidden for months. Who is Prasanth Nair?
In a rare moment where cinema met space, Malayalam actor Lena has tugged at the internet's heartstrings with an emotional Instagram post. The video shows her husband, Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair , warmly embracing astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and the Axiom-4 crew as they returned from space. What made the reel even more moving was Lena's clever choice of background score—Hans Zimmer's iconic Interstellar theme, which gave the real-life footage a cinematic, almost surreal, touch. Who is Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair? As per the Axiom Space website, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair is a decorated Indian Air Force test pilot and astronaut. A recipient of the prestigious Sword of Honour at the Hyderabad Air Force Academy. He was born on August 26, 1976, in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala. He graduated top of his class at the US Air Force Air Command and Staff College in Alabama. Nair was among the four astronauts handpicked by ISRO for the Gaganyaan mission —India's first human spaceflight—and underwent rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia. On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially revealed him as part of India's astronaut team. He served as the backup pilot for Axiom Mission 4 . Had astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla been unable to fly, Nair would have taken his place on the historic mission. Given his integral training role, he formed a close bond with the crew, making Shukla's emotional welcome all the more heartfelt. His secret marriage to Malayalam actress On February 27, 2024, Lena also revealed their secret marriage—news she had been legally required to keep under wraps until the official announcement of Nair's role. She confirmed that she married Group Captain Prasanth on January 17, 2024, in a traditional ceremony. The post included a montage of clips. About Malayalam actress Lena Actress Lena has worked in popular movies like Pushpaka Vimanam, Ouseppinte Osyath, Kanyaka Talkies, Spirit, Traffic and many other movies. She was last seen in Nancy Rani and has Valathu Vashathe Kallan in the pipeline. About Gaganyaan Mission India's ambitious human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, has now entered its final phase, with the country gearing up to send its first astronauts into space in early 2027. This milestone mission will see a crew of three Indian astronauts launched into a 400-km low Earth orbit for a three-day mission, culminating in a safe splashdown in Indian sea waters. The four Indian Air Force pilots, selected as astronaut-designates, have already completed their foundational training in Russia. They are currently undergoing mission-specific training in India, which includes rigorous assessments of their physical health, psychological fitness, and simulation-based readiness.
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Business Standard
21-06-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
Ax-4 launch halted indefinitely, Isro crew to return after Nasa stand-down
Just two days before its highly anticipated launch, the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) space mission has been indefinitely postponed, according to an official statement from Axiom Space. The mission, which was scheduled to lift off on June 22 has been delayed due to unresolved technical concerns and operational reassessments by Nasa. The setback has led the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) to recall its two astronauts, who had been stationed in Florida for training ahead of the mission. These astronauts — Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who was the designated mission pilot, and Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, the back-up crew member — are part of India's prestigious Gaganyaan mission. Speaking to The New Indian Express, an Isro scientist closely associated with the mission confirmed the postponement and said, 'As the mission has been indefinitely postponed, the astronauts will be returning. There are many technical issues which need to be addressed before the mission is launched. Since Nasa has pulled out of the mission, further communication will take time.' While Axiom Space has not provided a new launch date, the Houston-based private space company confirmed that the US space agency has stepped back from the June 22 launch timeline. In a formal statement, Axiom Space said, "Nasa has decided to stand down from the launch that was scheduled for June 22, 2025. The space agency needs more time to evaluate the ISS operations following the recent repair works in the rearmost segment of the orbital laboratory of the Zvezda service module. Since the space stations are interconnected and interdependent, Nasa wants to ensure that the station is ready for any additional crew members. More time is needed to evaluate everything." As of now, the four-person crew — which included astronauts from the US, Poland, Hungary, and India — remains in quarantine. Meanwhile, the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are still stationed on Launch Complex 39A at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission has faced a series of delays in recent weeks. Initially targeted for May 29, the launch was postponed to June 8 due to issues with the Crew Dragon module's electrical harness. It was further pushed to June 9 because of delays in Falcon 9's preparedness, and again to June 10 following poor weather at Kennedy Space Center. On June 10, during pre-launch inspections and hot-fire tests, engineers observed an oxygen leak in the engine bay, along with anomalies in one of the engine actuators. This prompted yet another shift in the launch schedule to June 11. It was during this period that both Nasa and Isro raised concerns with Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, after detecting a new pressure signature indicating an air leak in the Zvezda service module aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Isro reportedly advised Axiom, Nasa, and SpaceX to carry out on-site repairs or replacements and conduct low-temperature leak tests to ensure system integrity before proceeding. Isro had initially announced on June 14 that the mission would launch on June 19. However, that date was also retracted the same day, with the agency promising to communicate a revised schedule soon. The indefinite postponement is a significant development for all the space agencies involved, particularly Isro, which had planned the Ax-4 participation as a precursor to its ambitious human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan. The situation remains fluid, and all eyes are now on Axiom Space and Nasa for a clearer update on the future of the mission.
New Indian Express
21-06-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Axiom-4 put off again, ISRO decides to recall Group Captains Shukla, Nair
BENGALURU: Two days before the scheduled launch of the much-awaited Axiom-4 (Ax-4) Space Mission on June 22, Axiom Space on Friday announced its indefinite postponement. Axiom Space, which is spearheading the 14-day Ax-4 Space Mission to the International Space Station (ISS) with four astronauts from the US, India, Poland and Hungary, has not given the next launch date. Following this, the Indian Space Research Organisation decided to recall Ax-4 mission pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and reserve crew member Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair. 'NASA has made the decision to stand down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming days. The space agency (NASA) needs additional time to continue evaluating International Space Station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory's Zvezda service module. Because of the space station's interconnected and interdependent systems, NASA wants to ensure the station is ready for additional crew members, and the agency is taking the time necessary to review the data,' an Axiom Space statement read. The $64 million space mission is a multi-agency collaboration, involving Axiom Space, ISRO, NASA and European Space Agency (ESA). 'The (Indian) astronauts will be returning. There are many technical issues that need to be addressed before the mission is launched,' said a senior ISRO scientist. Shukla and Nair are among the four Indian astronauts selected for India's first manned space mission, Gaganyaan, scheduled to be launched some time in 2027. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the Ax-4 mission delays will have no impact on the Gaganyaan mission, which, he said, is progressing as per schedule.
