Russia to train astronauts for ISRO mission

ISRO is preparing for India’s first manned space mission- Gaganyaan and is currently in the process of selecting 12 astronauts.

India will be sending the 12 astronauts to Russia for training for the ambitious mission once they are selected. This is expected to be done in a month’s time.

The Russians will then select four out of the 12 astronauts for the final rigorous training spread over a duration of 15 months.

“The process of selecting astronauts is going on. They will be going to Russia for training in about a month… We are planning to select 12 astronauts and they will go to Russia. The Russians will select four from this and then the selected four astronauts will undergo rigorous training for 15 months,” said ISRO Chief K Sivan.

He also said,” “Till now, among those selected, there is no woman. But we want a woman to be there. Probably we will select one next time.”

ISRO will first launch an unmanned mission under Gaganyaan by December 2020 while the second unmanned mission is being planned for July 2021. This would then pave way for the launch of the manned mission by December 2021.

The astronauts are being selected from the Indian Air Force. After the first step of selecting astronauts, IAF had tweeted,”#MissionGaganyaan -IAF completed Level-1 of Indian Astronaut selection at Institute of Aerospace Medicine. Selected Test Pilots underwent extensive physical exercise tests, lab investigations, radiological tests, clinical tests & evaluation on various facets of their psychology.”

Gaganyaan will orbit the Earth at 400 km altitude for up to seven days with a two or three-person crew on board.

Watch in Sign Language