The Indian government recently revealed the identities of the four potential astronauts, also known as 'Vyomnauts', chosen for India's maiden human space mission. These skilled test pilots from the Indian Air Force (IAF) have conquered formidable G-forces and are now gearing up for a life in Zero Gravity.
The dream of sending an Indian to space took flight after the successful Chandrayan missions, but the groundwork began in 2007 with the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Space Capsule Recovery Experiment. This experiment paved the way for the successful re-entry of the crew module in 2016.
The official declaration of India's ambition to send a person to space came on August 15, 2018, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the mission from the Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations.
In 2019, the IAF sought applications from its experimental test pilots under the age of 39 with over 2,000 hours of flying experience. Following rigorous evaluations, including physical and psychological tests, conducted at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, 10 candidates were selected. From these, the final four were chosen through a process aimed at identifying the toughest individuals, both physically and mentally.
The screening process extended to India and Russia, where candidates underwent extensive medical examinations. Most eliminations occurred during these medical tests due to the stringent health requirements for space travel.
Space presents unique challenges to human physiology, including loss of bone density and muscle mass in Zero Gravity environments.
The selected candidates proceeded to Russia for training at the Yuri A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center in the Star City of Moscow Oblast. Here, they underwent intensive training, including survival exercises, weightlessness simulations, G-force simulations, and psychological evaluations.
One of the Vyomnauts preparing for the mission described the training in Russia as both theoretical and physical, with a significant focus on survival skills.
The four chosen fighter pilots – Group Captain P. Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Angad Prathap, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla – boast a combined flying experience of 10,000 hours. They have piloted various fighter jets, although experiencing Zero Gravity is a novel experience for them.
Indian Space Research Organisation