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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to reveal the names of four test pilots for India’s first human spaceflight mission, ‘Gaganyaan’, during his upcoming visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Tuesday. The visit aims to assess the progress of the ambitious space mission, as per a report by The Economic Times.
During the visit, PM Modi will also commend the four test pilots by awarding them with their ‘astronaut wings’. From these pilots, two to three will be chosen for the Gaganyaan mission.
Additionally, PM Modi will inaugurate three key space infrastructure projects at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. These projects include the PSLV integration facility at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; the semi-cryogenics integrated engine and stage test facility at ISRO’s propulsion complex in Mahendragiri; and a Trisonic wind tunnel at VSSC, together valued at Rs 1800 crore.
The four selected pilots have already undergone rigorous training and were stationed at Russia’s Zvyozdny Gorodok city during the pandemic, as per a report by the Times of India. They are currently stationed at an ISRO unit, familiarising themselves with the intricacies of the Gaganyaan mission.
Notably, one of the four selected pilots will be earmarked for the International Space Station (ISS) mission, following an agreement between ISRO and NASA during PM Modi’s visit to the US. This joint mission is part of broader efforts towards closer collaboration between the two space agencies, aimed at exploring the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The recent announcement by ISRO highlighted a significant achievement in its Gaganyaan preparations. ISRO confirmed the successful completion of the final round of ground qualification tests on February 13, 2024, marking the human rating of its CE20 cryogenic engine, crucial for powering the cryogenic stage of the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle for Gaganyaan missions.
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