Latest news with #Pratap
NDTV
2 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
'Carrying India's Dreams': Astronaut-Designate On Shubhanshu Shukla's Mission
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of the four astronaut-designates trained under India's Gaganyaan program, is set to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom mission this month. Among those who trained alongside Mr Shukla for India's maiden human spaceflight project is Group Captain Angad Pratap, who shared his thoughts on Mr Shukla's preparations for the Axiom-4 mission, which is scheduled to launch on June 8. "He (Mr Shukla) has been our colleague for the last five years. In our training, one of the most important things is that more than what you learn from the instructor or the curriculum, there is a lot of lateral learning that happens," Mr Pratap said. Mr Pratap, who is part of Gaganyaan along with Mr Shukla, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair and Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, emphasised that the journey of astronaut training is not a solo pursuit. "All four of us have our own strengths and weaknesses. I have learnt some very strong aspects of the qualities that an astronaut should have from each one of these individuals," he said. Expressing confidence that Mr Shukla will be a "good astronaut", Mr Pratap said that he has a "great responsibility" as there are many people whose "aspirations are going to fly along" with the Indian astronaut. "Rakesh Sharma Sir flew decades ago. In the modern era, Shukla has the opportunity to fly into space. And it is not Shukla alone who gets to fly into space. These are those faceless people whose aspirations are going to fly along with Shukla. He must remember that he's not alone. With him, a lot of other Indians are going to fly and a lot of dreams are going to be fulfilled," he said. He also said the mission will open the "floodgates for human spaceflight in India". "The aim is that spaceflight experience should be available to an average person," he said. On the safety of the Axiom mission, Mr Pratap expressed full confidence in the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon systems. "They've already proven themselves. The kind of levels of safety and reliability that they must have checked is unquestionably complete," he said. When asked if he felt disappointed about not being selected for the Axiom mission, Mr Pratap said, "Of course, when an opportunity like this comes up... you do feel at the end of the day that one opportunity is missed. But another aspect of being an astronaut is handling rejection. That is what makes the real character of an astronaut." "It doesn't really matter even for the Gaganyaan's first mission, whether I am the one who's flying or any one of the four of us, because all of us have got the same training and all of us are the true sons of the soil," he added.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
"Gaganyaan Just Beginning": Astronaut Angad Pratap On India's Space Future
New Delhi: As India embarks on its ambitious Gaganyaan program, the journey of its astronaut designates offers a glimpse into the nation's future in human spaceflight. Among them is Group Captain Angad Pratap, a fighter pilot and test pilot of the highest order, who shared his experiences and insights into the rigorous training and the promise of India's space endeavours. The journey began in January 2020 when Mr Pratap and three other astronaut designates were selected for the prestigious Gaganyaan program, which is scheduled for launch early in 2027. "It's been a long journey till now. It's been five years. We trained for approximately 14 months at Russia's Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, a place steeped in history and tradition. We were trained as cosmonauts in the Soyuz spacecraft and we had a bit of format training on the Russian segment of the International Space Station as well." After completing their training in Russia, the astronauts returned to India for another round of training at the astronaut training facility in Bangalore. "We have been trained on the human-rated launch vehicle, the basic theoretical subjects related to astronautics, as well as the Gaganyaan spacecraft," Me Pratap explained. "A portion of which is remaining, which we will restart closer to the mission." Reflecting on his experience at the Russian training school, Mr Pratap described it as "wonderful to begin with because that is a place with five decades of legacy". He noted the significance of training at a facility where astronauts from around the world have honed their skills. "From 2011 till about 2020, all astronauts of the world had to come to Moscow to train, since Soyuz was the only vehicle flying to space back then," he said. Standing beside a scale model of the crew module, Mr Pratap expressed confidence in the development of the actual spacecraft at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and the UR Rao Satellite Centre. "There is no denying the fact that not only me but all the other three astronauts as well-and I can say this for the entire space community-ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) has a very big name in the world of space," Mr Pratap added. He cited ISRO's achievements, including the Mars Orbiter Mission and Chandrayaan-3, as examples of the agency's credibility. "There has to be a great level of trust between a space traveller and his agency. Being a test pilot, I'm aware of the kind of testing protocols and how robust they are before a final product is cleared for spaceflight." The astronaut designates have visited major ISRO testing facilities, which Mr Pratap said has been a major confidence booster. "It's worked as a very big confidence-building measure and a boost to our trust in the vehicle." Mr Pratap also expressed satisfaction with the human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3, which is nearing completion. "I am more than happy. In aerospace, we don't go for big changes very soon. If a system is already proven and working, you don't change it just for comfort. Changes introduce new failure points." He emphasised that ISRO has wisely chosen to rely on its most robust and tested systems for the Gaganyaan mission. "And when it comes to the GSLV Mk3, or LVM-3, the whole world has immense trust in it. It has an enviable 100 per cent success record." Despite the long wait for a flight assignment, Mr Pratap remains grounded and patient. "Spaceflight takes time. We were awarded our space wings just last year. Globally, astronauts wait five to six years after that. Thomas Pesquet waited almost eight years," he noted. He added, "Anyone who wants to be an astronaut must accept that most of their 15-year astronaut career will be spent on Earth, working for science. It's not just about the flight. It's about patience, training, and character building." Mr Pratap and his fellow astronaut designates continue to keep their training sharp through regular technical meetings with ISRO and occasional flying stints with the Indian Air Force. "We go back to IAF once in a while and fly. Our engagement with ISRO includes regular interaction with designers and hardware developers. So both our piloting and test piloting skills are being maintained." Looking ahead, Mr Pratap is optimistic about India's broader space ambitions. "We need to think as Indians first and consider what we are about to achieve in the next two decades in spaceflight." He praised ISRO's parallel strategy in developing human spacecraft, docking systems, space station modules and lunar return capabilities. "ISRO is building all of this in parallel. The same capability that will bring back lunar samples will one day take humans to the moon and bring them back," he said. With government support and new funding, India is also developing a next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle. "It's for building bigger space stations in the future. The human space program is expanding, and things are looking good for us." When asked if he might one day go to the moon. Mr Pratap smiled and said, "It's too early to say. But what matters is that the nation progresses. Whether it's me or someone else, we should all be proud." As for Gaganyaan, he remains excited but measured. "Of course, I'm excited. But I'm also controlling my excitement. Let it happen at the right pace. Even if it's delayed by a year or more, what matters is that we have a successful mission."
India Today
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Tej Pratap Yadav: Politician, lover, influencer
Days after his elder son Tej Pratap shared a picture with a woman, referring to her as his girlfriend, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav expelled him from the party for six years — and from the family. However, Tej Pratap is claiming that his social media was hacked and photos tampered his expulsion, X hasn't stopped buzzing. The hashtag #TejPratapYadav and the keyword 'Lalu Yadav' gained over 33,700 and 32,300 posts in just 24 hours, with the hashtag trending for more than nine hours on the Pratap's social media reveals how the eldest of the Yadav clan lives in his own world, divided between his deities and his group of supporters, some of whom call him Teju Bhaiya. Like his favourite deity, Krishna, Tej Pratap is often photographed playing the flute. He has reinvented himself over the years, posing with horses, showing off luxury cars, and flashing his state-sanctioned security, all the while chasing clout on every social media platform minister and full-time vloggerOnce a cabinet minister in Nitish Kumar's government, Tej Pratap quickly shifted gears, from politics to GoPro. He launched a YouTube channel called 'LR Vlog' in November 2021, where he documented his life on camera, from showcasing his plush bungalow to parading government escorts and convoy cars. The channel has nearly two lakh subscribers, although he hasn't been very active over the past year. advertisement The channel's homepage proudly displays a YouTube Silver Play Button, a physical award given to channels that reach 100,000 subscribers. He's even seen collaborating with other YouTubers, a clear badge of his influencer Tej Pratap amped up his theatrics by sharing a photo on Facebook, posing beside an Air Force chopper. He claimed he was training to become a pilot and even offered to fight for the legacy and 'Pukar' anthemTej Pratap's thirst for validation didn't begin on YouTube. It can be traced back to TikTok, where his old profile had 1.76 lakh followers and was filled with Bollywood-style stunts, luxury rides in a BMW, and superbike antics. In 2018, he even dropped a theme song titled 'Tej Pratap Pukaar Raha Hai' — all in the name of the PR machine didn't stop there. A separate YouTube channel named 'LR Bharat' runs in parallel, often covering and promoting Tej Pratap Yadav and RJD meets dramaInstagram is where Tej Pratap truly shines — or rather, reels in attention — with over six lakh followers. From meditating in a forest surrounded by police personnel to donning Krishna's attire, playing the flute, and performing a self-Rudrabhishek, his posts are nothing short of Pratap Yadav seems more at home in a reel than in a constituency. Politics might run in his blood, but it's the likes and views that seem to pump his heart. Must Watch
Hans India
22-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Public participation essential to prevent fire mishaps: Fire DG
Tadepalli: Director General Madireddy Pratap of State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department, called for public participation in preventing fire accidents, emphasising that the summer season sees a higher incidence of such events. He urged people to take precautions. During a press conference held on Wednesday at the State headquarters of State Disaster Response and Fire Services here, DG Pratap stated that the risk of extensive damage from unforeseen fire accidents is higher in old cities of major cities within the State. He cited narrow roads and residential buildings located on upper floors of shops as contributing factors. He pointed out that these were clearly the reasons for the high number of fatalities in the recent fire accident near Hyderabad's Charminar. He warned that similar dangers loom in major towns in Andhra Pradesh, such as Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati. Therefore, he explained, by taking precautionary measures, everyone can contribute to preventing accidents. Making certain recommendations for fire prevention, he said that electrical appliances should be used based on the robustness of the wiring in old buildings. It's crucial to ensure that the existing wiring can handle the load of modern electrical appliances. This alone can reduce short-circuit accidents by more than half. He suggested installation of Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs) in every room and ensure proper earthing for every building. When installing air conditioners, check the wire capacity. These measures, if implemented at a low cost, can provide peace of mind. Referring to the smoke management, he suggested installation of smoke detectors and exhaust fans in every home as part of smoke management. This is critical because smoke inhalation often leads to life-threatening situations during short circuits or fires. Every building should ideally have a breathing balcony for better ventilation and safety. Madireddy Pratap recounted a recent fire incident in a shopping mall in Srikakulam, where it took fire personnel six hours to enter the premises due to intense smoke from burning clothes. Many people suffered from suffocation. He assured that all arrangements are being inspected when apartments are issued NOCs (No Objection Certificates) to prevent such situations in other areas. He stressed that the regulations enforced by the Fire department are for the public's benefit. Fire Department Director D Murali Mohan, Additional Director T Uday Kumar, Assistant District Fire Officer K Vinay and other staff members also participated.
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Machine moves fast but your brain must be faster: Gaganyaan astronaut
From his training and selection to the moment his terminally ill mother met the Prime Minister months before she passed away, one of India's four astronaut-designates, Angad Pratap, talks about his journey since being selected for Gaganyaan — the country's first crewed spaceflight mission scheduled for 2027. Pratap (43), an IAF test pilot who believes space should be accessible to all, spoke to The Indian Express during an ISRO-backed event in the national capital. At the venue, he patiently clicked photographs with all those who approached him, asked students about their studies, reassured a shy child by saying he looked 'very handsome' — and eventually had to remove his astronaut jacket to leave without further delay. Edited excerpts from the interview: There are definitely certain parallels between the two domains — while saying this, I do not want to imply that piloting is essential for becoming an astronaut. Astronautics is all about doing science in space; it should be accessible to one and all. We need people from all communities — scientists, doctors, engineers, philosophers, those from the arts and commerce world, as well as pilots. When space becomes accessible to everyone — more and more human beings sent from across the world — we will start thinking of ourselves as representatives of our planet. That is when we will grow beyond the smaller issues we are embroiling ourselves in. It just so happens that space travel is all about aviating: if you want to go to space, you need to traverse the atmosphere, and when you come back, you again need to traverse the atmosphere. What this requires is a lot of quick decision-making and staying ahead of a very, very fast-moving machine. The speed at which the machine is moving requires your brain to function even faster… A lot of these things are experienced by pilots here on Earth. Experientially, piloting is very close to being an astronaut. It's not that others aren't capable; they're simply not trained for it. So, test pilots — by virtue of their academic prowess and their experience aviating inside fast-moving vehicles — are more suitable and more easily trainable, and thus are given preference whenever a prototype spaceflight starts. Anyone who had cleared the test pilot examination — the most difficult examination in the Indian Air Force — was considered eligible. There were IQ tests, flying-skills assessments, and stress-tolerance evaluations. In the process, what I realised was that your knowledge can always be prepared. I'll draw an analogy with a computer: if you have an adequate hard drive and RAM, you can load any program. So the selection process was really about checking the size of the processor capability. In fact, there were many people brighter than us in various fields who did not make it. There were essentially a number of boxes you had to tick, and if even one box was unchecked, you could be the brightest human being but still get rejected. I know of brilliant test pilots who lost out due to factors beyond their control — for example, the medical evaluation. So, you have to thank your stars if you do make it. Normally, space experiments are conducted inside large, almirah-sized racks onboard a space station. But Gaganyaan only has the crew module — no racks, just a small, box-like apparatus. Most experiments, as worldwide, will be in microbiology, materials science, and combustion engineering. These three fields can propel space exploration to the next level — interplanetary travel. The best way to perform any experiment is to have the scientist onboard the station so settings can be tweaked and improvised to get good results. That may not always be possible. Instead, there are short-duration experiments with many autonomous features. So someone with some knowledge of how the experiment works, what results are expected, and an understanding of data purity and integrity can initialize the sequences. None of this develops overnight — you train for a good five to six months on a lot of maths and statistics. An astronaut has to train for many things that other human beings don't, because they enjoy the comforts of our planet… There is a lot of attention that comes with being an astronaut — your life becomes public. I learn so much from interacting with people: their dreams inspire me and have deeply impacted my personal growth. I've seen other astronauts share the same view. It's one of our responsibilities to further the cause of science and to inspire others to take up science. I always tell young students to stay in India, not chase quick money, but invest in unique opportunities such as working with ISRO. The interaction was a bit personal. Last year, my mother — who was terminally ill — came all the way from Bengaluru for the ceremony. I requested the Prime Minister, 'Can you please meet her?' and he obliged. Normally, to meet the PM you have to undergo a Covid test and follow strict protocol. He said it didn't matter and that he would meet her. He is magnanimous that way. This was in February last year, and I lost her in August. More important, however, was his vision for space. ISRO has laid out a solid roadmap, but we all need to understand that it requires sustained financial support. It's encouraging that the Government is handholding my parent space agency and that ISRO is also committing its resources. Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country's space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University's Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor's Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More
