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How To Become An Astronaut In India | Qualification & Requirement

PM Modi has revealed the names of four Indians who will become the first Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) astronauts to travel into space in its maiden human-crewed spacecraft, the Gaganyaan Mission.

They were bestowed with the prestigious astronaut wings by the PM at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thumba, Kerala, on February 27, 2024, describing them as “four forces” representing the aspirations and optimism of 1.4 billion Indians.

Who Are The ISRO Astronauts For Gaganyaan Mission

Let us get to know more about the four ISRO astronauts for the Gaganyaan Mission:

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair

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Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair was born in Thiruvazhiyad on August 26, 1976. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and a recipient of the Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. On December 19, 1988, he was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF. He is also a flying instructor and a test pilot with approximately 3,000 hours of flying experience. He has commanded a premier Su-30 fighter squadron.

Group Captain Ajit Krishnan

Image credit: YouTube

Group Captain Ajit Krishnan was born in Chennai on April 19, 1982. He is an alumnus of NDA and a recipient of the President’s Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. He was commissioned into the fighter stream on July 21, 2003. He is a flying instructor and a test pilot with approximately 2900 hours of flying experience.

Group Captain Angad Pratap

Image credit: YouTube

Group Captain Angad Pratap was born in Prayagraj on July 17, 1982. He is an alumnus of NDA and was commissioned into the fighter stream on December 18, 2004. He is a flying instructor and a test pilot with approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience.

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla

Image credit: YouTube

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla was born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on October 10, 1985. An NDA alumnus, he was commissioned into the IAF’s fighter stream on June 17, 2006. He is a fighter combat leader and a test pilot with around 2000 hours of flying experience.

All four astronauts have experience flying various aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, Mig-29, Jaguar, Dornier, and the An-32.

Training To Become An Astronaut

According to reports, the Indian astronauts underwent rigorous training of 13 months at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre near Moscow, Russia, and various levels of theoretical and physical training in India. Now, the astronauts are gearing up to be trained in the US at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Texas, very soon.

Take a glimpse into the lives of these Indian astronauts and how they are trained!

They are kept fit and ready for the long-awaited mission through Physical Fitness, Simulator, and Flight suit training.

The nation is elated and looking forward to the day the astronaut will take wing to space.

How To Become An Astronaut In India

Do the Gaganyaan astronauts inspire you? If yes, then you are poised to become future ISRO astronauts! Go ahead and take a look at the eligibility criteria:

A citizen of India.
A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university/college in either engineering, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, or mathematics.
A doctorate or a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering or aerospace engineering.
A technical degree in computer science engineering, mechanical engineering, aeronautical, electrical, or electronics engineering has an edge over other candidates.
Apart from the educational requirements specified above, candidates can also pursue studies in aeronautics, astrophysics, aviation, aerospace, aeronautical engineering, and other related fields during and after graduation.

Additional Information Required To Become An Astronaut

Let us also study some other important additional pieces of information:

Preference is given to Indian Air Force pilots due to their professional experience in flying aircraft.
You can also apply for the astronaut selection program conducted from time to time by ISRO.
Qualifying the medical and psychological tests, physical fitness tests, and space simulations are mandatory.
Selected will undergo rigorous training and become part of India’s elite group of astronauts.

If you want to know the salary and perks of scientists and engineers at ISRO, click here.

Physical Requirements Of An Astronaut

Apart from fulfilling the educational qualification requirements, students aspiring to be future astronauts also need to be physically fit:

A candidate should have an excellent height-weight ratio and meet blood pressure requirements and other medical ratios.
A candidate should have good eyesight and should not suffer from any chronic health conditions.
A candidate must adhere to a regular and viable lifestyle with exercise and a balanced diet.

Jobs & Opportunites At ISRO

As per the latest notification, ISRO has released various vacancies to be filled. Important posts to be filled are Scientist / Engineer, Technical Assistant, Scientific Assistant, Library Assistant, Technician & more.

The application deadline will end very soon.

Click here to download and read the details of the official notification brochure in PDF.

Regularly visit the official website of ISRO for various job openings, internships, training, and startup opportunities.

We hope this article helped you gain useful insights on how to become an astronaut. So gear up and start working towards you goal. With determination and clear objectives in mind, nothing is out of reach. Not even the stars. #BeUnstoppable.

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Kaihrii Thomas

Associate Content Writer

Instinctively, I fall for nature, music, humour, reading, writing, listening, travelling, observing, learning, unlearning, friendship, exercise, etc., all these from the cradle to the grave- that's ME! It's my irrefutable belief in the uniqueness of all. I'll vehemently defend your right to be your best while I expect the same from you!