ISRO Names Youngest Astronaut as Prime Candidate for Indo-US ISS Mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has designated the youngest of its astronaut candidates as the lead astronaut for the forthcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who has recently been promoted, will be the prime astronaut for this mission.

A ‘prime astronaut’ is selected to be the primary individual for the flight, while a backup astronaut is also chosen to step in if an unforeseen issue arises.

Group Captain Shukla, born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy. He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) on June 17, 2006, in the fighter stream.

Shukla is a Fighter Combat Leader and test pilot with nearly 2,000 flying hours under his belt. His flying experience spans various aircraft, including Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.

The backup astronaut for this mission will be Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, who is the oldest of the astronaut-designates. Born on August 26, 1976, in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, Nair is also a National Defence Academy graduate and was awarded the Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. He was commissioned into the IAF on December 19, 1998, in the fighter stream.

Nair is a Category-A flying Instructor—the highest designation a pilot can achieve—and a test pilot with around 3,000 flying hours. He has also piloted several aircraft, including Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. He has further distinguished himself as an alumnus of the United States Staff College and as a Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington and the Flying Instructors School in Tambaram. Additionally, he has commanded a Sukhoi-30MKI squadron.

To date, India has only had one astronaut in space, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who participated in an Indo-Soviet mission in 1984.

Experts believe that ISRO’s decision to select the youngest astronaut as the prime candidate aligns with the long-term goals of the Gaganyaan programme. Given that this mission is intended to be a prolonged endeavor, having a younger astronaut like Shukla is seen as advantageous. India aims to send a human to the Moon by 2040.

In a statement, ISRO said, “Towards the goal of mounting a joint ISRO-NASA effort, the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO has entered into a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with NASA-identified service provider Axiom Space Inc., USA for its upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. A National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris as prime and backup mission pilots for this mission.”

The final approval for the astronauts to fly to the ISS will be granted by the multilateral crew operations panel (MCOP). Training for the Gaganyatris is set to commence this week. The mission will involve conducting scientific research and technology demonstration experiments aboard the ISS and participating in space outreach activities.

The knowledge gained from this mission will contribute significantly to the Indian Human Space Programme and enhance the collaboration between ISRO and NASA in human space flight.

This Indo-US mission was initiated following a joint statement made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US in June 2023.