<p>Surprise, Surprise! Malayalam actress Lena is married to Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair who was named in the crew of the first manned Indian space&nbsp;mission Gaganyaan on Tuesday (Feb 27). Lena revealed that she married the Air Force officer on January 17, 2024. It was a traditional ceremony.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The actress took to social media to make the big reveal. She wrote, "Today, 27 February 2024, our Prime Minister, Modi ji Awarded the First Indian Astronaut Wings to Indian Air Force Fighter Pilot, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair. It is a historic moment of pride for our Country, our state of Kerala, and Me personally.”</p>

<p>She added, “In order to maintain the officially required confidentiality, I was waiting for this announcement to let you know that I got married to Prasanth on 17 January 2024 in a traditional ceremony through an arranged marriage.”</p>

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<h2><strong>Who is Lena?</strong></h2>

<p>Lena is a famous name in the Malayalam film industry. She debuted in the film space with Jayaraj's <em>Sneham</em>. She went on to star in films like <em>Karunam</em> and <em>Oru Cheru Amlisi.</em> Lena has also acted in films such as <em>Devaduthan, Indriyam, Koch Koch Santoshman and Shantam</em> and <em>Randaam Bhava.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p>Lena worked in films for a few years. She took a break for education, only to return in 2007 with <em>Big B.</em></p>

<p>She came back to the scene when she lent her voice to the Malayalam version of the Kannada film <em>KGF 2.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p>Apart from films, Lena has also been a patriot of many Malayalam hit serials like <em>Sneha, Omanathingalpakshi, Sathiya</em> and others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-our-film-starts-in-the-mahabharat-and-it-ends-in-2898-nag-ashwin-on-kalki-2898-ad-694364">Our film starts in the Mahabharat and ends in 2898: Nag Ashwin on Kalki 2898 AD</a></p>

<h2><strong>India's space mission: Gaganyaan</strong></h2>

<p>For the unversed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gaganyaan-mission-meet-four-astronauts-part-of-indias-first-manned-space-mission-694278">team members of&nbsp;India's Gaganyaan mission</a> on Tuesday, Feb 27. Apart from Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captains Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla will also be undertaking the journey.</p>

<p>The Gaganyaan, literally meaning ‘celestial vehicle’, will carry four people to an orbit of 400 km on a 3-day mission and bring them back safely to Earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.</p>


Surprise, Surprise! Malayalam actress Lena is married to Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair who was named in the crew of the first manned Indian space mission Gaganyaan on Tuesday (Feb 27).

Surprise, Surprise! Malayalam actress Lena is married to Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair who was named in the crew of the first manned Indian space mission Gaganyaan on Tuesday (Feb 27). Lena revealed that she married the Air Force officer on January 17, 2024. It was a traditional ceremony. The actress took to social media to make the big reveal. She wrote, "Today, 27 February 2024, our Prime Minister, Modi ji Awarded the First Indian Astronaut Wings to Indian Air Force Fighter Pilot, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair. It is a historic moment of pride for our Country, our state of Kerala, and Me personally.” She added, “In order to maintain the officially required confidentiality, I was waiting for this announcement to let you know that I got married to Prasanth on 17 January 2024 in a traditional ceremony through an arranged marriage.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lenaa ലെന (@lenaasmagazine) × Who is Lena? Lena is a famous name in the Malayalam film industry. She debuted in the film space with Jayaraj's Sneham. She went on to star in films like Karunam and Oru Cheru Amlisi. Lena has also acted in films such as Devaduthan, Indriyam, Koch Koch Santoshman and Shantam and Randaam Bhava. Lena worked in films for a few years. She took a break for education, only to return in 2007 with Big B. She came back to the scene when she lent her voice to the Malayalam version of the Kannada film KGF 2. Apart from films, Lena has also been a patriot of many Malayalam hit serials like Sneha, Omanathingalpakshi, Sathiya and others. Also read: Our film starts in the Mahabharat and ends in 2898: Nag Ashwin on Kalki 2898 AD India's space mission: Gaganyaan For the unversed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the team members of India's Gaganyaan mission on Tuesday, Feb 27. Apart from Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captains Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla will also be undertaking the journey. The Gaganyaan, literally meaning ‘celestial vehicle’, will carry four people to an orbit of 400 km on a 3-day mission and bring them back safely to Earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.

Malayalam actress Lena reveals she's married to Gaganyaan astronaut Prasanth Nair

<p>In what is the first-ever official glimpse of the Indian astronaut candidates, the Indian Air Force shared a clip that showed them in intense workout mode. They are featured in the video clip that was released by the Indian Air Force, as part of the 91<sup>st</sup>&nbsp;Indian Air Force Day celebrations.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">First-look of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indian</a> astronaut candidates revealed in latest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianAirForce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianAirForce</a> video 🇮🇳🚀👨‍🚀<br />
<br />
Could be the IAF pilot-astronauts working out&amp; preparing for their new role..why else would they share a back-facing-camera shot ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaganyaan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaganyaan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Science</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://t.co/0WbsyHElXI">pic.twitter.com/0WbsyHElXI</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1709200253130543198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Four Indian Air Force pilots have been screened and handpicked after multiple rounds of scrutiny, to undertake ISRO's ambitious Gaganyaan Human spaceflight mission to Low Earth orbit.</p>

<p>Since India doesn't yet have an exclusive pool of astronauts, the best option was to pick the ideal candidates from the Indian Air Force pilots, who are accustomed to bearing the high-loads of 'g' forces experienced during complex aerial manoeuvres.</p>

<p>All of us on the Earth's surface of the earth experience '1g' force,&nbsp;which is the ordinary pull of gravity.</p>

<p>During rapid acceleration or deceleration of an aerospace vehicle, this force is manifold (denoted by the number preceding the 'g'). Simply put, the phenomenon is referred to as 'g force' or the acceleration due to gravity.</p>

<p>Given the nature of their profession, fighter pilots are trained to take sustained loads of g forces, thereby making them better suited for undergoing training for astronaut missions.</p>

<p>Indian astronaut candidates had already completed a round of training at Russia's Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and have been undergoing simulator and theoretical training in India.</p>

<p>WION learnt that they even visited ISRO's lead centre Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Kerala's&nbsp;Thiruvananthapuram, earlier this year.</p>

<p>VSSC, which is responsible for conceptualising, designing and developing all space-transportation systems for the country, is preparing the crew module that would house the astronauts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;PM Modi in the US: India signs Artemis Accords that brings nations for civil space exploration</strong></p>

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<p>This year, during&nbsp;Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US, US President Joe Biden had announced a mission to launch Indian astronauts to the International Space Station in 2024 and mentioned it as a collaboration on Human Spaceflight.</p>

<p>This also means that Indian astronauts would train at the Johnson Space Centre in Texas, USA.</p>

<p><strong>Also read</strong> | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indian-astronaut-to-fly-to-international-space-station-in-2024-what-does-it-mean-for-gaganyaan-607731"><strong>Indian astronaut to fly to International Space Station in 2024. What does it mean for Gaganyaan?</strong></a></p>

<p>The Indian astronaut mission to the ISS is expected to serve as a precursor to the Indian Gaganyaan mission and offer valuable insights and practical lessons on living and working in space.</p>

<p>This is crucial, given how the first and only Indian astronaut (Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma) who had travelled to space, did so as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme in 1984.</p>

<p><img alt="Indian Air Force's Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, flight engineer Gennady Strekalov and commander Yury Malyshev alongside screengrabs of the-then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's interaction with Rakesh Sharma" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-07-09T123411.047.png" /></p>

<p><em>Indian Air Force's Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (centre), flight engineer Gennady Strekalov (L) and commander Yury Malyshev (R) alongside the screengrabs of the-then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's interaction with Rakesh Sharma |&nbsp;spacefacts.de/YouTube&nbsp;via Indian National Congress</em></p>

<p>The Indian Air Force video clip offering a glimpse of the astronaut candidates comes ahead of the 91st Indian Air Force day that is to be celebrated on October 8th.</p>

<p>By the end of this month, ISRO is expected to perform the maiden in-flight abort test of the Gaganyaan crew module. The crew module would be mounted atop a mini-rocket named as 'Test Vehicle' and launched to an altitude of 11-14km.</p>

<p>On reaching the designated altitude and flight parameters, the crew module would be ejected from the rocket and carried to a safe altitude away from the rocket, and then deploy parachutes for&nbsp;a splash down in the Bay of Bengal.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/gaganyaan-indian-astronauts-to-experience-4g-acceleration-during-ascent-12g-if-aborted-557263">Gaganyaan: Indian astronauts to experience '4g' acceleration during ascent, '12g' if aborted</a></strong></p>

<p>This test is similar to a fighter pilot ejecting from a fighter aircraft that is in extreme danger. In the astronaut mission, in case there is an issue with the rocket carrying the astronauts, the crew module would have to eject itself to safety and protect the astronauts nestled within.</p>

<p>This is a crucial test ahead of the maiden unmanned flight of the actual Gaganyaan mission that ISRO hopes to undertake by March 2024. After a series of successful uncrewed flights, ISRO would be undertaking the astronaut mission.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


In what is the first-ever official glimpse of the Indian astronaut candidates, the Indian Air Force shared a clip that showed them in intense workout mode. They are featured in the video clip that was released by the Indian Air Force, as part of the 91st Indian Air Force Day celebrations.

In what is the first-ever official glimpse of the Indian astronaut candidates, the Indian Air Force shared a clip that showed them in intense workout mode. They are featured in the video clip that was released by the Indian Air Force, as part of the 91st Indian Air Force Day celebrations. First-look of #indian astronaut candidates revealed in latest #IndianAirForce video 🇮🇳🚀👨‍🚀 Could be the IAF pilot-astronauts working out& preparing for their new role..why else would they share a back-facing-camera shot ?? #isro #india #space #Gaganyaan #Science #tech pic.twitter.com/0WbsyHElXI — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) October 3, 2023 × Four Indian Air Force pilots have been screened and handpicked after multiple rounds of scrutiny, to undertake ISRO's ambitious Gaganyaan Human spaceflight mission to Low Earth orbit. Since India doesn't yet have an exclusive pool of astronauts, the best option was to pick the ideal candidates from the Indian Air Force pilots, who are accustomed to bearing the high-loads of 'g' forces experienced during complex aerial manoeuvres. All of us on the Earth's surface of the earth experience '1g' force, which is the ordinary pull of gravity. During rapid acceleration or deceleration of an aerospace vehicle, this force is manifold (denoted by the number preceding the 'g'). Simply put, the phenomenon is referred to as 'g force' or the acceleration due to gravity. Given the nature of their profession, fighter pilots are trained to take sustained loads of g forces, thereby making them better suited for undergoing training for astronaut missions. Indian astronaut candidates had already completed a round of training at Russia's Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and have been undergoing simulator and theoretical training in India. WION learnt that they even visited ISRO's lead centre Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, earlier this year. VSSC, which is responsible for conceptualising, designing and developing all space-transportation systems for the country, is preparing the crew module that would house the astronauts. Also watch | PM Modi in the US: India signs Artemis Accords that brings nations for civil space exploration × This year, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US, US President Joe Biden had announced a mission to launch Indian astronauts to the International Space Station in 2024 and mentioned it as a collaboration on Human Spaceflight. This also means that Indian astronauts would train at the Johnson Space Centre in Texas, USA. Also read | Indian astronaut to fly to International Space Station in 2024. What does it mean for Gaganyaan? The Indian astronaut mission to the ISS is expected to serve as a precursor to the Indian Gaganyaan mission and offer valuable insights and practical lessons on living and working in space. This is crucial, given how the first and only Indian astronaut (Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma) who had travelled to space, did so as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme in 1984. Indian Air Force's Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (centre), flight engineer Gennady Strekalov (L) and commander Yury Malyshev (R) alongside the screengrabs of the-then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's interaction with Rakesh Sharma | spacefacts.de/YouTube via Indian National Congress The Indian Air Force video clip offering a glimpse of the astronaut candidates comes ahead of the 91st Indian Air Force day that is to be celebrated on October 8th. By the end of this month, ISRO is expected to perform the maiden in-flight abort test of the Gaganyaan crew module. The crew module would be mounted atop a mini-rocket named as 'Test Vehicle' and launched to an altitude of 11-14km. On reaching the designated altitude and flight parameters, the crew module would be ejected from the rocket and carried to a safe altitude away from the rocket, and then deploy parachutes for a splash down in the Bay of Bengal. Also read | Gaganyaan: Indian astronauts to experience '4g' acceleration during ascent, '12g' if aborted This test is similar to a fighter pilot ejecting from a fighter aircraft that is in extreme danger. In the astronaut mission, in case there is an issue with the rocket carrying the astronauts, the crew module would have to eject itself to safety and protect the astronauts nestled within. This is a crucial test ahead of the maiden unmanned flight of the actual Gaganyaan mission that ISRO hopes to undertake by March 2024. After a series of successful uncrewed flights, ISRO would be undertaking the astronaut mission. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Watch: Indian Air Force shares 'first-look' of India's ISRO Gaganyaan Astronauts

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Malayalam actress Lena reveals she's married to Gaganyaan astronaut Prasanth Nair

Watch: Indian Air Force shares 'first-look' of India's ISRO Gaganyaan Astronauts