PM Modi likely to reveal names of pilots for Gaganyaan on Tuesday; inaugurate space projects worth Rs 1800 crore in Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to disclose the names of four test pilots for India's maiden human spaceflight mission, 'Gaganyaan', during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) on Tuesday, where he will inspect the preparations for the ambitious space mission.

The four pilots whose names will be disclosed have undergone a year-long training course in Russia’s Zvyozdny Gorodok city during the pandemic and are now based in a unit of Isro getting familiar with the intricacies of the Gaganyaan mission.

Apart from announcing the pilots, PM Modi will also inaugurate three important space infrastructure projects worth about Rs 1,800 crore, Prime Minister Office (PMO) said in a statement on Monday.


Recently, the country's national space agency, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that it has accomplished a major milestone after it completed the final round of ground qualification tests on February 13, 2024. ISRO said that it has achieved the human rating for its CE20 cryogenic engine that powers the cryogenic stage of the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle for Gaganyaan missions.

Pilots for Gaganyaan:
Out of the four pilots that will be selected for the Gaganyaan mission, one of them will be shortlisted for the International Space Station (ISS) mission that was agreed upon between Isro and NASA, during the PM’s state visit to the US, the source informed ToI.

ISRO and NADA will work on joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024, which the USA envisages as a possibility for closer cooperation between the space agencies of the two countries to get closer to the realities of Moon and subsequently to Mars and other planets, said Union Minister of Science in a press release after PM Modi's visit to USA.

“This mission will be planned ahead of India’s human spaceflight mission so as to give the astronaut(s) enough opportunity to learn from the ISS mission to plan well for Gaganyaan,” the source said to ToI.

“Series of Gaganyaan tests have been planned before the final mission. Currently, Isro is working on three un-crewed missions — LVM3-G1 , LVM3-G2 and Vyommitra (humanoid) mission — that are independent of each other. One mission will be launched (by this year) based on the readiness of different subsystems and qualifications,” the source informed TOI.

Projects that PM Modi will inaugurate:

PSLV Integration Facility (PIF)- The PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota will help in boosting the frequency of PSLV launches from 6 to 15 per year. This state-of-the-art facility can also cater to the launches of SSLV and other small launch vehicles designed by private space companies.

New 'Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and stage Test facility: The new 'Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and stage Test facility' at IPRC Mahendragiri will enable development of semi cryogenic engines and stages which will increase the payload capability of the present launch vehicles. The facility is equipped with liquid Oxygen and kerosene supply systems to test engines up to 200 tons of thrust.

Trisonic Wind Tunnel: Wind tunnels are essential for aerodynamic testing for the characterization of rockets and aircraft during flight in the atmospheric regime. The "Trisonic Wind Tunnel" at VSSC being inaugurated is a complex technological system that will serve our future technology development needs.

This is the third time PM Modi will be visiting Kerala since January 2024.

(with ToI and agency inputs)