Shillong, Feb 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the names of four pilots who are undergoing training for the country’s maiden manned space flight mission ‘Gaganyaan’.

The pilots are – Group Captain P Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander S Shukla.

The space mission is aimed to be launched between 2024-2025. The manned spacecraft will be send into an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to Earth by landing in Indian sea waters.

A brief about these Officers

Gp Capt Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair was born in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala on 26 Aug 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 Cat 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.

Gp Capt Ajit Krishnan was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 19 Apr 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.

Gp Capt Angad Pratap was born in Prayagraj on 17 Jul 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.

Wg Cdr Shubhanshu Shukla was born in Lucknow, UP on 10 Oct 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.

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