Last Updated on February 27, 2024 at 6:25 pm
Meet the astronauts of India’s first-ever human space flight mission, Gaganyaan, whose names were announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair was born in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala on 26 August 1976. He is alumnus of NDA and recipient of Sword of Honour at Air Force Academy. He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1998 in the fighter stream of IAF. He is a Category A Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with approx 3000 hrs of flying experience. He has flown variety of ac including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, etc. He is also the alumnus of United States Staff College and a DS at DSSC, Wellington and FIS, Tambaram. He has commanded a premier fighter Su-30 Sqn.
Group Capt Ajit Krishnan was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 19 April 1982. He is alumnus of NDA and recipient of President’s Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at Air Force Academy. He was commissioned on 21 Jun 2003 in the fighter stream of IAF. He is Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with approx 2900 hrs of flying experience. He has flown variety of ac including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-21, Mig-29, Jaguar, Dornier, An-32 etc. He is also alumnus of DSSC, Wellington.
Group Capt Angad Pratap was born in Prayagraj on 17 July 1982. He is alumnus of NDA and was commissioned on 18 Dec 2004 in the fighter stream of IAF. He is a Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with approx 2000 hrs of flying experience. He has flown variety of ac including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32 etc.
Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla was born in Lucknow, UP on 10 October 1985. He is alumnus of NDA and was commissioned on 17 Jun 2006 in the fighter stream of IAF. He is a Fighter Combat Leader and a Test Pilot with approx 2000 hrs of flying experience. He has flown variety of ac including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32 etc.
