New Delhi,: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described the Gaganyaan mission as a “new chapter” in the journey of Atmanirbhar Bharat, praising astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and the three other selected Gaganyatris as “gems.” Singh felicitated the astronauts at a ceremony hosted by the Indian Air Force at Subroto Park.
The event followed the successful Axiom-4 mission, in which Wing Commander Shukla played a key role.
The four chosen Gaganyatris are Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla. Their names were first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, in February 2024.
Launched by PM Modi in 2018, the Gaganyaan project aims to send a three-member crew into a 400 km orbit for a three-day mission in 2027.
