<p>Indian astronaut candidates and Air Force Test pilots, Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla and Prashant Balakrishnan Nair&nbsp;— who have now spent more than a week at NASA's Johnson Center, Houston, Texas&nbsp;— will be training at the American astronaut training facility for three months or longer, ISRO Chief Dr S. Somanath exclusively told WION.</p>

<p>In July, WION had exclusively reported that Indian astronaut candidates would commence their US-based training in early August. The duo have been in the US since 5<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;August.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/exclusive-indian-astronauts-us-training-from-august-spaceflight-by-year-end-740415">Exclusive: Indian astronauts' US training from August; spaceflight by year-end</a></strong></p>

<p>For more than half a century, NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston has played a lead role in human exploration, discovery and achievement. Since the 1960s Apollo-era to the contemporary Artemis crewed Lunar exploration efforts, and everything in between, Johnson Center has been the hub of human-led space exploration in the US.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My excl: 🇮🇳 Astronaut candidates Gp Capts S. Shukla(L) &amp; PB Nair(R) have been training at <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA_Johnson</a> for a week+ now..Their advanced Astronaut training in USA will be for "3months or more, depending on the mission requirement". In 2025, one of them will fly to <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> <a href="https://t.co/5uCfJJ0yeX">pic.twitter.com/5uCfJJ0yeX</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1824686756576526371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Indian duo are training to take part in a US-led mission to the International Space Station, an orbiting lab that circles 425kms above the earth. Recently, India's Human Spaceflight Centre (HSFC) had entered into a spaceflight agreement (SFA) with Axiom Space Inc, an American firm that has been identified by NASA.</p>

<p>Axiom is a private firm that facilitates a ride to space for paying customers. In this case, Axiom will facilitate the spaceflight of a chosen Indian&nbsp;astronaut, aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.</p>

<p>Falcon 9 is the only contemporary American rocket with a proven track record of performing multiple&nbsp;astronaut-ferrying missions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>According to ISRO, India's primary Gaganyatri (space traveller) for this mission will be Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and the backup candidate will be Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair. One among them will be later approved to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP) which is responsible for choosing the Indian candidate who will fly to the ISS.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During his stay in space, as part of the Axiom-4 mission, the chosen Indian&nbsp;astronaut&nbsp;will be undertaking scientific research and technology demonstration experiments aboard the ISS.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>What is Gaganyaan? What is India prepping its&nbsp;astronaut&nbsp;candidates for?</b></h2>

<p>India has revealed the names of four&nbsp;astronaut&nbsp;candidates who are to fly on the country's homegrown 'Gaganyaan' programme that aims to fly an&nbsp;astronaut-carrying capsule to earth orbit (400kms above the planet's surface) and bring them back safely for an oceanic splashdown landing. Gaganyaan was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, as India's maiden mission to fly humans (trained&nbsp;astronauts) to space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gaganyaan would be carried out by the Indian Space Agency ISRO, with test pilots of the Indian Air Force, serving as the crew members. The four candidates (Group Captains Prashant Balakrishnan Nair, Shubhanshu Shukla, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap) have already completed their training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Moscow.</p>

<p>In recent years, they have also been undergoing training at ISRO and Indian Air Force facilities, while also assisting ISRO teams in designing and developing some systems required for Gaganyaan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gaganyaan is the first step in a series of sustained human spaceflight missions that India wants to carry out in a phased manner. By the end of this decade, India hopes to put an uncrewed space station in Earth orbit. By 2035, it would be used as a crewed Indian outpost that's circling the earth.</p>

<p>India also plans to land its&nbsp;astronauts on the moon by 2040, a feat that only America has accomplished in 1969, and China hopes to do so by the end of this decade.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>Soviets flew 1st Indian to space in 1984; US to fly 2nd Indian to space in 2025</b></h2>

<p>40 years ago, in 1984, Indian Air Force Pilot Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma flew to space as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. He is the only Indian to have flown to space. He did so on the Soviet Soyuz T-11 mission to the Salyut-7 space station, a lab that circles above the Earth.</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 via Indian National Congress</em></p>

<section>Gaganyaan is India's own attempt at launching&nbsp;astronauts to space on a largely homegrown mission, with support from the US, Russia, and France, among others. Of these, Russia(erstwhile Soviet Union) and the US are the pioneers of human spaceflight, since the Cold War era.&nbsp;</section>

<p>In 2023, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State visit to the US, President Joe Biden had announced that 'NASA would provide advanced training to Indian&nbsp;astronauts at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, with a goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Given that India's only experience of human spaceflight comes from Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma who flew fourty years ago, the 2024 mission to the ISS is expected to offer significant insights and experiences related to contemporary spaceflight and relevant technologies. This would offer crucial lessons to ISRO and its chosen candidate, as it prepares for the homegrown Gaganyaan mission.</p>

<p>At present, India is in the process of gradually testing various systems and technologies required to execute an uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, slated for later this year or in early 2025. After a couple of flawless uncrewed missions, India will embark on the&nbsp;astronaut-carrying mission, perhaps, by 2026.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>Maiden Gaganyaan flight trial in Dec 2024</b></h2>

<p>Following the successful launch of the SSLV-D3/EOS-08 mission, ISRO Chief Dr S.Somanath said that the agency is looking to launch the maiden uncrewed trial of the Human-rated Gaganyaan rocket and its crew module. ISRO has dubbed this mission 'G1'.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIONExclusive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIONExclusive</a> | ISRO chairman Dr S. Somanath speaks to WION on NASA training of Indian astronauts.<br />
<br />
What does the US-India collaboration mean for both countries?<br />
<br />
WION's <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sdhrthmp</a> brings us this exclusive interview. <a href="https://twitter.com/AnanyaDutta97?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnanyaDutta97</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpaceNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISRONews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISRONews</a> <a href="https://t.co/SMqAS49BQd">pic.twitter.com/SMqAS49BQd</a></p>
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<p>ISRO has readied much of the hardware required for this high-profile mission, including the S200 solid motors, the core L110 stage and the cryogenic C32 stage, which respectively serve as the first, second and third stages of the Human-rated LVM3 rocket.</p>

<p>"The Gaganyaan rocket’s three stages have come to Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The integration of the crew module is happening at VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram)."</p>

<p>ISRO expects that all systems for the 'G1' flight will reach the Indian spaceport by November, for a planned launch in December.</p>


Indian astronaut candidates and Air Force Test pilots, Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla and Prashant Balakrishnan Nair — who have now spent more than a week at NASA's Johnson Center, Houston, Texas — will be training at the American astronaut training facility for three months or longer, ISRO Chief Dr S.

Indian astronaut candidates and Air Force Test pilots, Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla and Prashant Balakrishnan Nair — who have now spent more than a week at NASA's Johnson Center, Houston, Texas — will be training at the American astronaut training facility for three months or longer, ISRO Chief Dr S. Somanath exclusively told WION. In July, WION had exclusively reported that Indian astronaut candidates would commence their US-based training in early August. The duo have been in the US since 5th August. Also read | Exclusive: Indian astronauts' US training from August; spaceflight by year-end For more than half a century, NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston has played a lead role in human exploration, discovery and achievement. Since the 1960s Apollo-era to the contemporary Artemis crewed Lunar exploration efforts, and everything in between, Johnson Center has been the hub of human-led space exploration in the US. My excl: 🇮🇳 Astronaut candidates Gp Capts S. Shukla(L) & PB Nair(R) have been training at @NASA_Johnson for a week+ now..Their advanced Astronaut training in USA will be for "3months or more, depending on the mission requirement". In 2025, one of them will fly to @Space_Station pic.twitter.com/5uCfJJ0yeX — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) August 17, 2024 × The Indian duo are training to take part in a US-led mission to the International Space Station, an orbiting lab that circles 425kms above the earth. Recently, India's Human Spaceflight Centre (HSFC) had entered into a spaceflight agreement (SFA) with Axiom Space Inc, an American firm that has been identified by NASA. Axiom is a private firm that facilitates a ride to space for paying customers. In this case, Axiom will facilitate the spaceflight of a chosen Indian astronaut, aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Falcon 9 is the only contemporary American rocket with a proven track record of performing multiple astronaut-ferrying missions. × According to ISRO, India's primary Gaganyatri (space traveller) for this mission will be Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and the backup candidate will be Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair. One among them will be later approved to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP) which is responsible for choosing the Indian candidate who will fly to the ISS. During his stay in space, as part of the Axiom-4 mission, the chosen Indian astronaut will be undertaking scientific research and technology demonstration experiments aboard the ISS. What is Gaganyaan? What is India prepping its astronaut candidates for? India has revealed the names of four astronaut candidates who are to fly on the country's homegrown 'Gaganyaan' programme that aims to fly an astronaut-carrying capsule to earth orbit (400kms above the planet's surface) and bring them back safely for an oceanic splashdown landing. Gaganyaan was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, as India's maiden mission to fly humans (trained astronauts) to space. Gaganyaan would be carried out by the Indian Space Agency ISRO, with test pilots of the Indian Air Force, serving as the crew members. The four candidates (Group Captains Prashant Balakrishnan Nair, Shubhanshu Shukla, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap) have already completed their training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Moscow. In recent years, they have also been undergoing training at ISRO and Indian Air Force facilities, while also assisting ISRO teams in designing and developing some systems required for Gaganyaan. Gaganyaan is the first step in a series of sustained human spaceflight missions that India wants to carry out in a phased manner. By the end of this decade, India hopes to put an uncrewed space station in Earth orbit. By 2035, it would be used as a crewed Indian outpost that's circling the earth. India also plans to land its astronauts on the moon by 2040, a feat that only America has accomplished in 1969, and China hopes to do so by the end of this decade. Soviets flew 1st Indian to space in 1984; US to fly 2nd Indian to space in 2025 40 years ago, in 1984, Indian Air Force Pilot Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma flew to space as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. He is the only Indian to have flown to space. He did so on the Soviet Soyuz T-11 mission to the Salyut-7 space station, a lab that circles above the Earth. 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 Gaganyaan is India's own attempt at launching astronauts to space on a largely homegrown mission, with support from the US, Russia, and France, among others. Of these, Russia(erstwhile Soviet Union) and the US are the pioneers of human spaceflight, since the Cold War era. In 2023, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State visit to the US, President Joe Biden had announced that 'NASA would provide advanced training to Indian astronauts at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, with a goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024'. Given that India's only experience of human spaceflight comes from Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma who flew fourty years ago, the 2024 mission to the ISS is expected to offer significant insights and experiences related to contemporary spaceflight and relevant technologies. This would offer crucial lessons to ISRO and its chosen candidate, as it prepares for the homegrown Gaganyaan mission. At present, India is in the process of gradually testing various systems and technologies required to execute an uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, slated for later this year or in early 2025. After a couple of flawless uncrewed missions, India will embark on the astronaut-carrying mission, perhaps, by 2026. Maiden Gaganyaan flight trial in Dec 2024 Following the successful launch of the SSLV-D3/EOS-08 mission, ISRO Chief Dr S.Somanath said that the agency is looking to launch the maiden uncrewed trial of the Human-rated Gaganyaan rocket and its crew module. ISRO has dubbed this mission 'G1'. #WIONExclusive | ISRO chairman Dr S. Somanath speaks to WION on NASA training of Indian astronauts. What does the US-India collaboration mean for both countries? WION's @sdhrthmp brings us this exclusive interview. @AnanyaDutta97 #SpaceNews #ISRONews pic.twitter.com/SMqAS49BQd — WION (@WIONews) August 16, 2024 × ISRO has readied much of the hardware required for this high-profile mission, including the S200 solid motors, the core L110 stage and the cryogenic C32 stage, which respectively serve as the first, second and third stages of the Human-rated LVM3 rocket. "The Gaganyaan rocket’s three stages have come to Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The integration of the crew module is happening at VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram)." ISRO expects that all systems for the 'G1' flight will reach the Indian spaceport by November, for a planned launch in December.

Exclusive: Indian astronauts' US training to go on for three months

<p>Two Indian astronauts from the existing pool of four astronaut designates (specially selected test pilots of the Indian Air Force) will be training at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Texas, from early August, ISRO Chief,&nbsp;Dr. S. Somanath told WION.</p>

<p>He added that one of the two NASA-trained Indian astronauts would later fly on the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station.</p>

<p>The NASA training of Indian astronauts and the Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS) was&nbsp;announced by US President Joe Biden, during Indian Prime Minister Modi's state visit to the US in June 2023.</p>

<p>The NASA training and the joint ISS mission are meant to serve as precursors to India's homegrown Human Spaceflight programme:&nbsp;Gaganyaan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Collaboration on Human Spaceflight, including sending an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indian</a> astronaut to the International <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> station in 2024” says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> as he lists out areas of bilateral cooperation between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a><br />
<br />
Travel to <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> &amp; working there will prep astronauts for Gaganyaan <a href="https://t.co/mJfcX4sKdP">pic.twitter.com/mJfcX4sKdP</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1672074359031361537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Responding to a query from WION, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti expressed confidence that the Indo-US crewed mission to the ISS would take place by 2024-end.</p>

<p>The question was raised based on recent reports that this&nbsp;mission would be pushed to early 2025. In&nbsp;fact, President Biden had specifically announced in June 2023 that the joint crewed mission would be executed in 2024.</p>

<p>Ambassador Garcetti was speaking at the&nbsp;US-India Defence Conclave organised by CUTS International.</p>

<p>Incidentally, this Indo-US astronaut mission comes forty years after India's first and only astronaut Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma flew on a Soyuz T-11 rocket to the Soviet Salyut-7 Space station in April 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 via Indian National Congress</em></p>

<p>Queried on the specifics of the Indo-US mission, Ambassador Garcetti told WION that it would be executed by American private firms SpaceX and Axiom.</p>

<p>SpaceX's Falcon9 rocket would be the launcher and the Crew Dragon would be the capsule, whereas Axiom will serve as a facilitator of this effort.</p>

<p>For the last four years, SpaceX has been the lone US option to ferry astronauts to the space station and back. Boeing Starliner is meant to be the other American offering in this lucrative segment but the ongoing technical issues with Starliner and its overstaying in space would further delay routine missions by Starliner.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is India's Gaganyaan?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>India has revealed the names of four astronaut candidates who are to fly on the country's homegrown 'Gaganyaan' programme that aims to fly an astronaut-carrying capsule to earth orbit (400kms above the planet's surface) and bring them back safely for an oceanic splashdown landing.</p>

<p>Gaganyaan would be carried out by the Indian Space Agency ISRO, with test pilots of the Indian Air Force, serving as the crew members.</p>

<p>The four candidates have already completed their training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Moscow, and are presently undergoing training at ISRO and Indian Air Force facilities, while also assisting ISRO teams in designing and developing some systems required for Gaganyaan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">India's best-kept secret of the last 5yrs - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indian</a> astronaut candidates who have been training for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gaganyaan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gaganyaan</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://t.co/j9Uxd2qyXD">pic.twitter.com/j9Uxd2qyXD</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1762370086571327716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Gaganyaan is the first step in a series of sustained human spaceflight missions that India wants to carry out in a phased manner. By the end of this decade, India hopes to put an uncrewed space station in Earth orbit. By 2035, it would be used as a crewed Indian outpost that's circling the earth.</p>

<p>India also plans to land its astronauts on the moon by 2040.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Coming as&nbsp;a precursor to Gaganyaan, the Indo-US Astronaut mission would help India gain contemporary spaceflight experience, something that only Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma has from his Soviet-era spaceflight in 1984.</p>

<p>With spaceflight technologies having drastically changed, the contemporary spaceflight experience would offer valuable technological and experiential insights.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At present, India is in the process of gradually testing various systems and technologies required to execute an uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, slated for later this year or in early 2025. After a couple of flawless uncrewed missions, India will embark on the astronaut-carrying mission, perhaps, by 2026.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ISRO Chief Dr S.Somanath had earlier told WION that human spaceflight is a highly challenging endeavour and how India only had the minimal experience of Rakesh Sharma's flight in 1984.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;</strong><strong>Indian astronauts to train at NASA from August</strong></p>

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<p>He added that the Indian astronauts have to "touch, feel, and experience space" and how the mission to Space station would help ISRO in its own Gaganyaan efforts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In another significant collaborative effort, India's GSLV Mk2 rocket will be launching an Indo-US satellite known as NISAR - NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR).</p>

<p>NISAR is an all-weather earth observation satellite that will help study the vital signs of the earth, such as the temperature, ice melting, deforestation, and many more important parameters that help better understand climate change, natural calamities etc.</p>

<p>NISAR was to launch by mid-2024 but has been delayed owing to technical glitches in the satellite components. NISAR is expected to launch by 2024-end or early 2025.&nbsp;</p>


Two Indian astronauts from the existing pool of four astronaut designates (specially selected test pilots of the Indian Air Force) will be training at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Texas, from early August, ISRO Chief, Dr.

Two Indian astronauts from the existing pool of four astronaut designates (specially selected test pilots of the Indian Air Force) will be training at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Texas, from early August, ISRO Chief, Dr. S. Somanath told WION. He added that one of the two NASA-trained Indian astronauts would later fly on the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station. The NASA training of Indian astronauts and the Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS) was announced by US President Joe Biden, during Indian Prime Minister Modi's state visit to the US in June 2023. The NASA training and the joint ISS mission are meant to serve as precursors to India's homegrown Human Spaceflight programme: Gaganyaan. “Collaboration on Human Spaceflight, including sending an #Indian astronaut to the International #space station in 2024” says @POTUS as he lists out areas of bilateral cooperation between #india & #USA Travel to @Space_Station & working there will prep astronauts for Gaganyaan pic.twitter.com/mJfcX4sKdP — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) June 23, 2023 × Responding to a query from WION, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti expressed confidence that the Indo-US crewed mission to the ISS would take place by 2024-end. The question was raised based on recent reports that this mission would be pushed to early 2025. In fact, President Biden had specifically announced in June 2023 that the joint crewed mission would be executed in 2024. Ambassador Garcetti was speaking at the US-India Defence Conclave organised by CUTS International. Incidentally, this Indo-US astronaut mission comes forty years after India's first and only astronaut Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma flew on a Soyuz T-11 rocket to the Soviet Salyut-7 Space station in April 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 Queried on the specifics of the Indo-US mission, Ambassador Garcetti told WION that it would be executed by American private firms SpaceX and Axiom. SpaceX's Falcon9 rocket would be the launcher and the Crew Dragon would be the capsule, whereas Axiom will serve as a facilitator of this effort. For the last four years, SpaceX has been the lone US option to ferry astronauts to the space station and back. Boeing Starliner is meant to be the other American offering in this lucrative segment but the ongoing technical issues with Starliner and its overstaying in space would further delay routine missions by Starliner. What is India's Gaganyaan? India has revealed the names of four astronaut candidates who are to fly on the country's homegrown 'Gaganyaan' programme that aims to fly an astronaut-carrying capsule to earth orbit (400kms above the planet's surface) and bring them back safely for an oceanic splashdown landing. Gaganyaan would be carried out by the Indian Space Agency ISRO, with test pilots of the Indian Air Force, serving as the crew members. The four candidates have already completed their training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Moscow, and are presently undergoing training at ISRO and Indian Air Force facilities, while also assisting ISRO teams in designing and developing some systems required for Gaganyaan. India's best-kept secret of the last 5yrs - #indian astronaut candidates who have been training for #isro #gaganyaan #india #space pic.twitter.com/j9Uxd2qyXD — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) February 27, 2024 × Gaganyaan is the first step in a series of sustained human spaceflight missions that India wants to carry out in a phased manner. By the end of this decade, India hopes to put an uncrewed space station in Earth orbit. By 2035, it would be used as a crewed Indian outpost that's circling the earth. India also plans to land its astronauts on the moon by 2040. Coming as a precursor to Gaganyaan, the Indo-US Astronaut mission would help India gain contemporary spaceflight experience, something that only Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma has from his Soviet-era spaceflight in 1984. With spaceflight technologies having drastically changed, the contemporary spaceflight experience would offer valuable technological and experiential insights. At present, India is in the process of gradually testing various systems and technologies required to execute an uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, slated for later this year or in early 2025. After a couple of flawless uncrewed missions, India will embark on the astronaut-carrying mission, perhaps, by 2026. ISRO Chief Dr S.Somanath had earlier told WION that human spaceflight is a highly challenging endeavour and how India only had the minimal experience of Rakesh Sharma's flight in 1984. Also watch | Indian astronauts to train at NASA from August × He added that the Indian astronauts have to "touch, feel, and experience space" and how the mission to Space station would help ISRO in its own Gaganyaan efforts. In another significant collaborative effort, India's GSLV Mk2 rocket will be launching an Indo-US satellite known as NISAR - NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR). NISAR is an all-weather earth observation satellite that will help study the vital signs of the earth, such as the temperature, ice melting, deforestation, and many more important parameters that help better understand climate change, natural calamities etc. NISAR was to launch by mid-2024 but has been delayed owing to technical glitches in the satellite components. NISAR is expected to launch by 2024-end or early 2025.

Exclusive: Indian astronauts' US training from August; spaceflight by year-end

<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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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

<p>On November 21, 1963, the launch of a US-origin Nike Apache sounding rocket from Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, in southern India marked the beginning of the Indian Space programme. Sixty years later, in 2023, the Indian and American governments are collaborating on human spaceflight and working towards sending an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024.</p>

<p>This announcement on the highest-ever level of Indo-US Space cooperation was made during the Joint Press Conference at the White House, addressed by US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Collaboration on Human Spaceflight, including sending an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indian</a> astronaut to the International <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> station in 2024” says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> as he lists out areas of bilateral cooperation between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a><br />
<br />
Travel to <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> &amp; working there will prep astronauts for Gaganyaan <a href="https://t.co/mJfcX4sKdP">pic.twitter.com/mJfcX4sKdP</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1672074359031361537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>“From designing new ways to diagnosing and treating new illnesses like cancer and diabetes to collaboration on human space flight, including on sending an Indian astronaut to the international space station in 2024…,” President Biden said while listing out the areas of bilateral cooperation.</p>

<p>The coming year would be the most significant-yet milestone in Indo-US space ties, as the two countries are expected to undertake two high-profile missions: The launch of jointly-built earth-imaging NISAR Satellite (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) from India's spaceport in Sriharikota by early 2024 and the newly-announced mission to launch an Indian Astronaut to the ISS.</p>

<p>NISAR Project Scientist from NASA-JPL Dr Paul Rosen recently explained to WION the capabilities of the jointly-developed imaging satellite.</p>

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<p>This will also mark the first-ever trip of an Indian astronaut to the ISS and the second foray of an Indian into space. Thus far, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma has been the only Indian to venture into space. He had travelled as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme in 1984.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"President Biden and Prime Minister Modi welcomed the decision of NASA and ISRO to develop a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation by the end of 2023. The leaders hailed the announcement by NASA to provide advanced training to Indian astronauts at Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, with the goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024", read the joint statement from the US and India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"India and the US have had a deep and long legacy of cooperation in the areas of Space science and technology. Furthering our cooperation in the field of space, we have decided to sign the Artemis Accords.... For India-US ties, even sky is not the limit," said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his media address. Going by his announcement, India would become the 27th&nbsp;signatory of the Artemis Accords, a common set of principles to govern the civil exploration and safe, peaceful, prosperous use of outer space.</p>

<p>NASA, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, established the Artemis Accords in 2020 along with seven other founding member nations.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">“<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> have had a deep and long legacy of cooperation in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#science</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/technology?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#technology</a>…furthering our ties in space, we have decided to sign the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArtemisAccords?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArtemisAccords</a>.. for India-US ties, even sky is not the limit” <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a><br />
<br />
India to be 27th Signatory of US-led Accords <a href="https://t.co/XnoCV0dpCm">pic.twitter.com/XnoCV0dpCm</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1672077169856757762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Artemis Accords is not just limited to Lunar exploration. "The principles set out in these Accords are intended to apply to civil space activities conducted by the civil space agencies of each Signatory. These activities may take place on the Moon, Mars, comets, and asteroids, including their surfaces and sub-surfaces, as well as in orbit of the Moon or Mars, in the Lagrangian points for the Earth-Moon system, and in transit between these celestial bodies and locations," the Artemis Accords document states.</p>

<p>Signing the Artemis Accords must not be construed as joining the US-led Artemis manned Lunar exploration programme. Notably, even non-spacefaring nations have signed the accords, which are legally non-binding.</p>

<p>As one of the few elite nations that possess end-to-end space capabilities (means to design, develop and launch rockets and satellites indigenously), both the announcements made in the White House are expected to immensely benefit India's space programme - be it human spaceflight missions or exploratory ones.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Gaganyaan</strong></h2>

<p>Over the last four years, India's space agency ISRO has been working on the country's ambitious indigenous Human Spaceflight programme known as Gaganyaan. This endeavour is envisioned as a three-day mission, where a crew of three Indian astronauts housed within a capsule (crew module) will be carried to space on an Indian rocket and brought back to Earth.</p>

<p>Once in Earth orbit, the crew are expected to perform in-orbit experiments during their&nbsp;stay in space and then the crew module would de-orbit and splash down, off the Indian coast.</p>

<p>Chairman ISRO, Dr S Somanath recently told WION that the Indian astronaut candidates (crew of Indian Air Force Pilots) have completed the first round of training abroad, have completed simulator training in India and are now undergoing theoretical training.</p>

<p>He added that the maiden unmanned mission of Gaganyaan would be carried out in early-2024 and the astronaut mission would be attempted in late-2024 or early-2025. India's efforts towards its maiden human spaceflight programme are being supported by Russia, US, Japan, France, European Union etc.</p>

<p>As India's astronauts gear up for the Gaganyaan mission, the ISRO-NASA joint mission to ISS in 2024 could be a precursor. Such a mission can help in preparing the Indian crew for their own national mission and give them a feel of travelling to space, living in Low Earth orbit and working there.</p>

<p>While the ISS is originally a cooperative programme between US, Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan, astronauts from Israel, Saudi Arabia and UAE have also flown to the ISS and worked there. The advanced astronaut training that is to be provided for Indian astronauts at the Johnson Space Centre would better equip Indian astronauts for handling the several challenges that come with space travel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ISRO officials have said on multiple occasions that India's Gaganyaan is not a one-off mission and will have several follow-on missions. As a nation with end-to-end indigenous space capability, India aspires to have a sustained human presence in space, possibly an Indian Space Station.</p>

<p>Till the time that plan becomes a reality, ISRO-NASA missions to the ISS and similar efforts could provide a great wealth of learnings and experience for India's space science community and aid in developing India's own efforts and resources towards sustained human presence in Low Earth Orbit.</p>

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On November 21, 1963, the launch of a US-origin Nike Apache sounding rocket from Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, in southern India marked the beginning of the Indian Space programme.

On November 21, 1963, the launch of a US-origin Nike Apache sounding rocket from Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, in southern India marked the beginning of the Indian Space programme. Sixty years later, in 2023, the Indian and American governments are collaborating on human spaceflight and working towards sending an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024. This announcement on the highest-ever level of Indo-US Space cooperation was made during the Joint Press Conference at the White House, addressed by US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Collaboration on Human Spaceflight, including sending an #Indian astronaut to the International #space station in 2024” says @POTUS as he lists out areas of bilateral cooperation between #india & #USA Travel to @Space_Station & working there will prep astronauts for Gaganyaan pic.twitter.com/mJfcX4sKdP — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) June 23, 2023 × “From designing new ways to diagnosing and treating new illnesses like cancer and diabetes to collaboration on human space flight, including on sending an Indian astronaut to the international space station in 2024…,” President Biden said while listing out the areas of bilateral cooperation. The coming year would be the most significant-yet milestone in Indo-US space ties, as the two countries are expected to undertake two high-profile missions: The launch of jointly-built earth-imaging NISAR Satellite (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) from India's spaceport in Sriharikota by early 2024 and the newly-announced mission to launch an Indian Astronaut to the ISS. NISAR Project Scientist from NASA-JPL Dr Paul Rosen recently explained to WION the capabilities of the jointly-developed imaging satellite. This will also mark the first-ever trip of an Indian astronaut to the ISS and the second foray of an Indian into space. Thus far, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma has been the only Indian to venture into space. He had travelled as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme in 1984. "President Biden and Prime Minister Modi welcomed the decision of NASA and ISRO to develop a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation by the end of 2023. The leaders hailed the announcement by NASA to provide advanced training to Indian astronauts at Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, with the goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024", read the joint statement from the US and India. "India and the US have had a deep and long legacy of cooperation in the areas of Space science and technology. Furthering our cooperation in the field of space, we have decided to sign the Artemis Accords.... For India-US ties, even sky is not the limit," said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his media address. Going by his announcement, India would become the 27th signatory of the Artemis Accords, a common set of principles to govern the civil exploration and safe, peaceful, prosperous use of outer space. NASA, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, established the Artemis Accords in 2020 along with seven other founding member nations. “#india & #USA have had a deep and long legacy of cooperation in #space #science & #technology…furthering our ties in space, we have decided to sign the #ArtemisAccords.. for India-US ties, even sky is not the limit” @narendramodi India to be 27th Signatory of US-led Accords pic.twitter.com/XnoCV0dpCm — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) June 23, 2023 × The Artemis Accords is not just limited to Lunar exploration. "The principles set out in these Accords are intended to apply to civil space activities conducted by the civil space agencies of each Signatory. These activities may take place on the Moon, Mars, comets, and asteroids, including their surfaces and sub-surfaces, as well as in orbit of the Moon or Mars, in the Lagrangian points for the Earth-Moon system, and in transit between these celestial bodies and locations," the Artemis Accords document states. Signing the Artemis Accords must not be construed as joining the US-led Artemis manned Lunar exploration programme. Notably, even non-spacefaring nations have signed the accords, which are legally non-binding. As one of the few elite nations that possess end-to-end space capabilities (means to design, develop and launch rockets and satellites indigenously), both the announcements made in the White House are expected to immensely benefit India's space programme - be it human spaceflight missions or exploratory ones. Gaganyaan Over the last four years, India's space agency ISRO has been working on the country's ambitious indigenous Human Spaceflight programme known as Gaganyaan. This endeavour is envisioned as a three-day mission, where a crew of three Indian astronauts housed within a capsule (crew module) will be carried to space on an Indian rocket and brought back to Earth. Once in Earth orbit, the crew are expected to perform in-orbit experiments during their stay in space and then the crew module would de-orbit and splash down, off the Indian coast. Chairman ISRO, Dr S Somanath recently told WION that the Indian astronaut candidates (crew of Indian Air Force Pilots) have completed the first round of training abroad, have completed simulator training in India and are now undergoing theoretical training. He added that the maiden unmanned mission of Gaganyaan would be carried out in early-2024 and the astronaut mission would be attempted in late-2024 or early-2025. India's efforts towards its maiden human spaceflight programme are being supported by Russia, US, Japan, France, European Union etc. As India's astronauts gear up for the Gaganyaan mission, the ISRO-NASA joint mission to ISS in 2024 could be a precursor. Such a mission can help in preparing the Indian crew for their own national mission and give them a feel of travelling to space, living in Low Earth orbit and working there. While the ISS is originally a cooperative programme between US, Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan, astronauts from Israel, Saudi Arabia and UAE have also flown to the ISS and worked there. The advanced astronaut training that is to be provided for Indian astronauts at the Johnson Space Centre would better equip Indian astronauts for handling the several challenges that come with space travel. ISRO officials have said on multiple occasions that India's Gaganyaan is not a one-off mission and will have several follow-on missions. As a nation with end-to-end indigenous space capability, India aspires to have a sustained human presence in space, possibly an Indian Space Station. Till the time that plan becomes a reality, ISRO-NASA missions to the ISS and similar efforts could provide a great wealth of learnings and experience for India's space science community and aid in developing India's own efforts and resources towards sustained human presence in Low Earth Orbit. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indian astronaut to fly to International Space Station in 2024. What does it mean for Gaganyaan?

<p>The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is performing a host of tests in the run up to the ambitious 'Gaganyaan' astronaut mission. In a latest development, the Indian space agency has taken possession of an indigenously designed and developed Simulated Crew Module (SCM). The SCM is a near-total replica of the structure that will house Indian astronauts during the Gaganyaan mission. In the coming months, ISRO will be flight testing this SCM, on-board a new mini-rocket known as Test Vehicle (TV). WION spoke to Dr&nbsp;S&nbsp;Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the lead facility for the development of rockets. Both TV and SCM were also developed by the teams at VSSC, in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram.</p>

<p>On Friday, ISRO said that Dr&nbsp;S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, VSSC, received the Simulated Crew Module from V.N. Sai Prakash, MD, Manjira Machine Builders in a ceremony held in Hyderabad. Dr S. Somanath, Chairman, ISRO and Dr R. Umamaheswaran, Director HSFC, graced the occasion through virtual presence.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">(1/4) Today, ISRO received Simulated Crew Module (SCM) Structure Assembly for the Gaganyaan project.<br />
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This first indigenous SCM is developed by VSSC and realized by Manjira Machine Builders Pvt Ltd., Hyderabad. <a href="https://t.co/yV1WkKMz4U">pic.twitter.com/yV1WkKMz4U</a></p>
— ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/1629126794669600777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>In a rocket launch where astronauts are being ferried to space, crew safety is of paramount priority. To ensure this, ISRO is working on demonstrating the capability to abort (eject) and rescue the crew module alone, during different stages of the rocket's flight and under varying conditions. Similar to how a pilot can rapidly (in micro-seconds) eject from a fighter aircraft, the entire crew module (structure) will be able to eject itself from the rocket, by using small, high-thrust, solid-propelled escape motors (mini-rockets).&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The actual crew module and the full-fledged GSLV Mk3 rocket are very expensive, so they cannot be used for conducting multiple abort tests. In order to perform low-cost and highly-efficient testing, we have developed the Simulated Crew Module and a mini liquid-fuelled rocket known as Test Vehicle (based on a single L40 Booster of the GSLV Mk2 rocket)," Dr&nbsp;Nair explained. Our goal is to perform abort tests and check all systems at different stages- at the launchpad, when the rocket is flying and transitioning from subsonic to supersonic, when the rocket is undergoing maximum dynamic pressure, he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mass, aerodynamic characteristics, center of gravity, moment of inertia and several technical and engineering parameters of the SCM are exactly the same as the original crew module. Similarly, it also has provisions for parachutes and pyro systems, just like the original. This will help test how the abort system and its multiple associated systems would work under varying, challenging flight conditions. In 2018, ISRO had tested the abort mechanism at the launchpad from a stationary setup. But the real test would be to conduct an abort when the crew module is being flown atop the rocket.</p>

<p>"The abort mechanism we are using includes multiple mini-rockets or escape motors. During the tests, we will identify how many of these rockets need to be fired at different altitudes to ensure a safe ejection. For example, aborting at the launchpad would mean firing all mini-rockets. Whereas, when the rocket is flying at an altitude of 20 km, only a few mini-rockets would have to be fired for a safe abort. There are different combinations (high-altitude and low-altitude escape motors) for different contingency scenarios. Such testing will also help understand whether the forces exerted by our abort system are suitable and tolerable for human limits," Dr Nair elaborated.&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>ISRO plans to perform at least four missions with the Test Vehicle, before proceeding to the two Unmanned Missions involving the human-rated GSLV Mk3 rocket. The maiden mission involving astronauts is expected to be carried out after the two Unmanned missions. At present, the Test Vehicle is ready at our spaceport, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, said Dr. Nair. The Test Vehicle is a low-cost platform that ISRO hopes to utilise for demonstrating a wide-range of technologies- vertical landing, recovery and re-use of rocket stages, hypersonic scramjet, etc.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is performing a host of tests in the run up to the ambitious 'Gaganyaan' astronaut mission. In a latest development, the Indian space agency has taken possession of an indigenously designed and developed Simulated Crew Module (SCM).

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is performing a host of tests in the run up to the ambitious 'Gaganyaan' astronaut mission. In a latest development, the Indian space agency has taken possession of an indigenously designed and developed Simulated Crew Module (SCM). The SCM is a near-total replica of the structure that will house Indian astronauts during the Gaganyaan mission. In the coming months, ISRO will be flight testing this SCM, on-board a new mini-rocket known as Test Vehicle (TV). WION spoke to Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the lead facility for the development of rockets. Both TV and SCM were also developed by the teams at VSSC, in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram. On Friday, ISRO said that Dr S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, VSSC, received the Simulated Crew Module from V.N. Sai Prakash, MD, Manjira Machine Builders in a ceremony held in Hyderabad. Dr S. Somanath, Chairman, ISRO and Dr R. Umamaheswaran, Director HSFC, graced the occasion through virtual presence. (1/4) Today, ISRO received Simulated Crew Module (SCM) Structure Assembly for the Gaganyaan project. This first indigenous SCM is developed by VSSC and realized by Manjira Machine Builders Pvt Ltd., Hyderabad. pic.twitter.com/yV1WkKMz4U — ISRO (@isro) February 24, 2023 × In a rocket launch where astronauts are being ferried to space, crew safety is of paramount priority. To ensure this, ISRO is working on demonstrating the capability to abort (eject) and rescue the crew module alone, during different stages of the rocket's flight and under varying conditions. Similar to how a pilot can rapidly (in micro-seconds) eject from a fighter aircraft, the entire crew module (structure) will be able to eject itself from the rocket, by using small, high-thrust, solid-propelled escape motors (mini-rockets). "The actual crew module and the full-fledged GSLV Mk3 rocket are very expensive, so they cannot be used for conducting multiple abort tests. In order to perform low-cost and highly-efficient testing, we have developed the Simulated Crew Module and a mini liquid-fuelled rocket known as Test Vehicle (based on a single L40 Booster of the GSLV Mk2 rocket)," Dr Nair explained. Our goal is to perform abort tests and check all systems at different stages- at the launchpad, when the rocket is flying and transitioning from subsonic to supersonic, when the rocket is undergoing maximum dynamic pressure, he added. The mass, aerodynamic characteristics, center of gravity, moment of inertia and several technical and engineering parameters of the SCM are exactly the same as the original crew module. Similarly, it also has provisions for parachutes and pyro systems, just like the original. This will help test how the abort system and its multiple associated systems would work under varying, challenging flight conditions. In 2018, ISRO had tested the abort mechanism at the launchpad from a stationary setup. But the real test would be to conduct an abort when the crew module is being flown atop the rocket. "The abort mechanism we are using includes multiple mini-rockets or escape motors. During the tests, we will identify how many of these rockets need to be fired at different altitudes to ensure a safe ejection. For example, aborting at the launchpad would mean firing all mini-rockets. Whereas, when the rocket is flying at an altitude of 20 km, only a few mini-rockets would have to be fired for a safe abort. There are different combinations (high-altitude and low-altitude escape motors) for different contingency scenarios. Such testing will also help understand whether the forces exerted by our abort system are suitable and tolerable for human limits," Dr Nair elaborated. Also read | Gaganyaan: Indian astronauts to experience '4g' acceleration during ascent, '12g' if aborted ISRO plans to perform at least four missions with the Test Vehicle, before proceeding to the two Unmanned Missions involving the human-rated GSLV Mk3 rocket. The maiden mission involving astronauts is expected to be carried out after the two Unmanned missions. At present, the Test Vehicle is ready at our spaceport, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, said Dr. Nair. The Test Vehicle is a low-cost platform that ISRO hopes to utilise for demonstrating a wide-range of technologies- vertical landing, recovery and re-use of rocket stages, hypersonic scramjet, etc.

Exclusive | Gaganyaan: ISRO's crew module to undergo in-flight abort tests on mini-rocket 'TV'

<p>The whole nation felt the pain when Chandrayaan-2's lander crashed&nbsp;on the lunar surface just moments before it was about to create history. This New Year, however, ISRO chief K Sivan once again gave Indians a reason to rejoice when he announced that four astronauts have been shortlisted for India's first manned space mission Gaganyaan. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his Independence Day Speech last year said that by 2022 India would send its astronauts to space.</p>

<p>So what is Gaganyaan? What is the&nbsp;significance&nbsp;of the mission? This article attempts to answer all key questions related to India's ambitious new programme.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gaganyaan-mission-four-astronauts-selected-to-undergo-training-in-russia-says-isro-chief-k-sivan-271425">Gaganyaan mission: Four astronauts selected to undergo training in Russia, says ISRO chief K Sivan</a></p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">What is Gaganyaan?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Gaganyaan is a crewed orbital spacecraft that is expected to take three astronauts to space for a period of seven days. For the mission, India's space agency is planning to carry out two unmanned missions in December 2020 and July 2021, followed by the manned mission by December 2021. ISRO's Geo-Synchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) will be used for the manned space mission.</p>

<p>"The total fund requirement for the Gaganyaan Programme is within Rs.10,000 crore," as per a government statement. The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Why is it significant?</strong></p>

<p>If India successfully sends four astronauts to space, it will be only the fourth nation to do so after the United States, China and Russia. It will re-establish India's space research position amongst giants such as the US, China and Russia, which spends way more money than India on space programmes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/russia-to-train-four-indian-astronauts-for-gaganyaan-mission-245890">Gaganyaan mission: Russia to train 4 Indian astronauts; special ISRO unit at Moscow</a></p>

<p><strong>What is the Russian connection?</strong></p>

<p>The all-weather friendship of India and Russia has also been reflected in the field of space. India's only astronaut to travel space Rakesh Sharma, also undertook his journey in Russia's Interkosmos programme. For Gaganyaan, ISRO signed an agreement with Russia's Glavkosmos to select and train Indian astronauts for the space mission. Earlier ISRO chief had said that 12 astronauts from India would go to Russia for training and four would be shortlisted. The selected astronauts will now undergo rigorous training for 15 months In India and abroad.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What will be the challenges encountered by astronauts to get mission ready?</strong></p>

<p>The Gaganyaan crew will first undergo medical examination followed by rigorous physical training even for military personnel. The idea behind this tough training programme is to get astronauts accustomed to gravitational changes which will cause physiological alterations.</p>

<p>Often, astronauts face motion sickness when they experience weightlessness in the space. The changing gravity also results in fluctuations in blood circulation especially during re-entry to earth or landing which also makes astronauts unconscious due to lack of internal pressure. For the mission preparation, astronauts will be put under a centrifuge which will spin rapidly in order to adapt them for gravitational acceleration. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>The astronauts will also be acquainted with life support systems, navigation and thermal controls, astronomy, and other necessary sciences if a need arose of manual intervention or emergency.</p>

<p>Generally, astronauts are trained for four years, but Indian space explorers would only get only two years for meeting the launch deadline.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What can be the impact of Gagnayaan?</strong></p>

<p>The success of Gaganyaan would unlock many doors to experiment with more spaceflight missions. It will also give boost to India's ambition of setting up its own space station.&nbsp;</p>


The whole nation felt the pain when Chandrayaan-2's lander crashed on the lunar surface just moments before it was about to create history. This New Year, however, ISRO chief K Sivan once again gave Indians a reason to rejoice when he announced that four astronauts have been shortlisted for India's first manned space mission Gaganyaan.

The whole nation felt the pain when Chandrayaan-2's lander crashed on the lunar surface just moments before it was about to create history. This New Year, however, ISRO chief K Sivan once again gave Indians a reason to rejoice when he announced that four astronauts have been shortlisted for India's first manned space mission Gaganyaan. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his Independence Day Speech last year said that by 2022 India would send its astronauts to space. So what is Gaganyaan? What is the significance of the mission? This article attempts to answer all key questions related to India's ambitious new programme. Also read: Gaganyaan mission: Four astronauts selected to undergo training in Russia, says ISRO chief K Sivan What is Gaganyaan? Gaganyaan is a crewed orbital spacecraft that is expected to take three astronauts to space for a period of seven days. For the mission, India's space agency is planning to carry out two unmanned missions in December 2020 and July 2021, followed by the manned mission by December 2021. ISRO's Geo-Synchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) will be used for the manned space mission. "The total fund requirement for the Gaganyaan Programme is within Rs.10,000 crore," as per a government statement. The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km. Why is it significant? If India successfully sends four astronauts to space, it will be only the fourth nation to do so after the United States, China and Russia. It will re-establish India's space research position amongst giants such as the US, China and Russia, which spends way more money than India on space programmes. Also read: Gaganyaan mission: Russia to train 4 Indian astronauts; special ISRO unit at Moscow What is the Russian connection? The all-weather friendship of India and Russia has also been reflected in the field of space. India's only astronaut to travel space Rakesh Sharma, also undertook his journey in Russia's Interkosmos programme. For Gaganyaan, ISRO signed an agreement with Russia's Glavkosmos to select and train Indian astronauts for the space mission. Earlier ISRO chief had said that 12 astronauts from India would go to Russia for training and four would be shortlisted. The selected astronauts will now undergo rigorous training for 15 months In India and abroad. What will be the challenges encountered by astronauts to get mission ready? The Gaganyaan crew will first undergo medical examination followed by rigorous physical training even for military personnel. The idea behind this tough training programme is to get astronauts accustomed to gravitational changes which will cause physiological alterations. Often, astronauts face motion sickness when they experience weightlessness in the space. The changing gravity also results in fluctuations in blood circulation especially during re-entry to earth or landing which also makes astronauts unconscious due to lack of internal pressure. For the mission preparation, astronauts will be put under a centrifuge which will spin rapidly in order to adapt them for gravitational acceleration. The astronauts will also be acquainted with life support systems, navigation and thermal controls, astronomy, and other necessary sciences if a need arose of manual intervention or emergency. Generally, astronauts are trained for four years, but Indian space explorers would only get only two years for meeting the launch deadline. What can be the impact of Gagnayaan? The success of Gaganyaan would unlock many doors to experiment with more spaceflight missions. It will also give boost to India's ambition of setting up its own space station.

EXPLAINED: Gaganyaan- All you need to know about India's first manned space mission