ISRO asks Indian Air Force to select and train 10 Gagannauts

ISRO has finally tasked the IAF for selection and training of 10 crew members for the country’s first human spaceflight programme or Gaganyaan.

Talking to TOI, ISRO chairman K Sivan said, “We have fixed all criteria and requirements for crew selection and training and submitted the same to the IAF. The IAF has now been given the full task of selection and training of the crew. The first two levels of training of the crew will happen at the IAF’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine (Bengaluru) and the final phase will be abroad.” On the number of crew, Sivan said, “We want IAF to train 10 candidates for the Gaganyaan mission. Out of them, we will pick final three for the maiden space journey.” On training abroad of the Gagannauts, Sivan said Isro has two-three countries in mind and but “no final call has been taken yet”.

IAM, which conducts research in aerospace medicine and trains airmen and pilots, had earlier provided medical support to the Indo-Soviet manned space flight programme in 1980s. On January 30 this year, Isro had inaugurated the Human Space Flight Centre at the agency headquarters in Bengaluru.