The thread that binds India’s Gaganyaan astronauts: all four are proud alumni of NDA

The PM also pinned ‘astronaut wings’ on the four astronaut-designates Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla — all having passed out from the hallowed portals of the NDA between 1997 and 2005 and commissioned into the IAF after their premissioning training at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal.

During the visit to the VSSC, the PM said, “They are not just four names or individuals, they are four ‘Shakti’ carrying the aspirations of 140 crore Indians into space. An Indian is going into space after 40 years. However, now, the time, the countdown as well as the rocket belong to us.”

Notably, India’s first astronaut Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 in April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme, is an alumnus of the 35th course of the NDA.

Born on August 26, 1976, at Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, Gp Capt Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair passed out from the NDA in 1997 and is recipient of the Sword of Honour at AFA. Commissioned in December 1998 in the fighter stream of IAF, Gp Capt Nair is a Cat A Flying Instructor and Test Pilot with around 3,000 hours of flying under his belt. He has flown a variety of aircraft including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29 fighters and also Hawk, Dornier, An-32. He is also an alumnus of United States Staff College and has commanded a premier fighter Su-30 squadron.

The Air Force Training Team (AFTT) is the wing of the NDA that trains cadets in military aviation and IAF ethos.

In their six term training at the NDA spread over three years, the Air Force cadets begin their association with AFTT in the fifth term when they start learning aviation-related subjects before their flying training in the sixth term.

The training comprises all aspects of aviation spanning from aerodynamics, avionics, airframes, aeronautical instruments, airmanship, meteorology, aero engines, navigation and aviation medicine.

First astronaut-designate Gp Capt Ajit Krishnan was born in Chennai on April 19, 1982. He passed out from the NDA in 2002 and was recipient of the President’s Gold Medal and Sword of Honour at the AFA. He was commissioned in June 2003. Gp Capt Krishnan is a Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with an exemplary flying record of around 2,900 hours. He has flown a variety of aircraft including fighters like Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-21, Mig-29, Jaguar and others including Dornier and An-32. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

The AFTT currently conducts its flying training on Super Dimona, multi-utility aircraft of Austrian origin, which were inducted in 2013. Earlier training used to happen on other motorised gliders. Every cadet has to complete 10 sorties during their sixth term flying training. The training at the AFTT has three main aspects: flying training, ground training and air warrior training.

The third astronaut-designate Gp Capt Angad Pratap was born in Prayagraj on July 17 in 1982 and passed out from the NDA in 2003. Commissioned in the IAF in December 2004, the Group Captain is a Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with around 2,000 hours of flying experience. He has flown a variety of aircraft including fighters like Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar and others including Hawk, Dornier, An-32.

The fourth astronaut-designate Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla was born in Lucknow on October 10, 1985 and passed out from the NDA in 2005. Commissioned in June 2006 in the fighter stream of IAF, Wg Cde Shukla is fighter combat leader and a Test Pilot with around 2,000 hours of flying experience. He has flown a variety of aircraft including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32 etc.

Air Marshal Bhushan Gokhale (Retd), former Vice Chief of Air Staff and alumnus of the 31st course of the NDA, said, “Like NDA is the cradle of military leadership, its AFTT can be called the cradle of military aviation. Here the cadets not just receive lessons in basics of military aviation but also develop the temperament that is required to be a military aviator. But what further connects all the four astronaut-designates and also Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, is that they have all been accomplished test pilots which gives all of them that edge to face the challenges of spacecrafts.”

‘Matter of immense pride’

NDA Commandant Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar said, “It is indeed a matter of immense pride for the NDA that the four astronauts selected to be part of the historic Gaganyaan Mission have all passed out from its hallowed portals. This unique achievement in pursuit of our country’s maiden manned mission is yet another milestone crossed by the cadets of the National Defence Academy in conquering uncharted territory and bringing laurels to our nation, as was done by another distinguished NDA alumni, Sqn Ldr (later Wing Commander) Rakesh Sharma, AC, the first Indian in space way back in 1984. The pathbreaking accomplishment by these four stalwarts is a true testament of the excellent leadership skills and service training being imparted at NDA and it motivates us at the National Defence Academy, the cradle of leadership of the Indian Armed Forces, to remain steadfast to the cause of our great nation and making it ‘Saare Jahaan se Accha’ in every sense!”