The training regimen for India's four astronaut-designates for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, slated for launch in 2025, encompasses a diverse array of sessions. These sessions include simulations, microgravity familiarisation, survival training, flying practice, and Yoga.
Conducted at the Indian Space Research Organisation's crew training facility, the intensive program caters to the needs of the astronaut-designates: Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla.
An official from the space agency outlined the comprehensive nature of the training, emphasizing its focus on aero-medical aspects, recovery techniques, and survival skills. This practical training complements classroom sessions, physical fitness routines, simulator exercises, and flight suit familiarisation.
Additionally, the training modules encompass academic courses, Gaganyaan Flight Systems, microgravity experiences through parabolic flights, recovery procedures, flight manoeuvres, and crew training simulations, as per sources from ISRO.
It is highlighted that the mission-specific training commenced in India after the successful completion of generic space flight training of the astronaut-designates at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC) in Russia. This phase includes theoretical coursework in engineering disciplines, hands-on training on Gaganyaan flight systems, and simulator exercises simulating mission scenarios.
The initial phase of crew training, comprising 39 activities, has been accomplished. This involved attending numerous lectures conducted by faculty members from ISRO and the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, along with physical training sessions, flying practices, medical evaluations, and course assessments.
Various Crew Training Simulators (CTS) such as the Independent Training Simulator (ITS), Virtual Reality Training Simulator (VRTS), Dynamic Training Simulator (DTS), and Static Mock-up Simulator (SMS) have been employed to prepare the crew for a spectrum of mission scenarios, both nominal and off-nominal. These efforts underscore the meticulous preparation undertaken by ISRO to ensure the readiness of the crew for the challenges of space exploration.
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