Four IAF pilots for training in Russia in 'good health' amid the coronavirus scare; Read more-

Moscow, April 9: With the four Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots presently undertaking training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Russia for India’s maiden Human Space flight program for the Gaganyaan mission, have reported being in good health amid the coronavirus crisis.

 

Glavkosmos JSC Director-General, Dmitry Loskutov informed, “The Indian candidates for the spaceflight are in good health and continue working according to their training plan. Last week they successfully passed the exam on the knowledge of the onboard systems of the manned spacecraft. In the coming days, they are to take the exam in manned spacecraft flight theory.”

 

The pilots went to Russia for training to become astronauts for the Ganganyaan mission since February. However, due to the virus pandemic, they have temporarily ceased their training after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared nationwide self-isolation in Russia on March 28. Following these guidelines, they were strongly recommended to be in self-isolation.

 

"The decision on whether to resume full-fledged training will be made following a careful study of the epidemiological situation in the country, but practical lessons will resume no earlier than April 30 or after a relevant decree [as issued]," he further said. ISRO has signed an agreement to train the four Indian astronauts State Space Corporation Roscosmos and The company, Glavkosmos, JSC being a subsidiary of it.

 

Four test pilots of the Indian Air Force, selected to crew the spacecraft, begun their training at the Yu.A Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Centre near Moscow in February. The pilots will have to undergo the training for a year before returning to India but so far, they have completed a quarter of their training.

 

The Gaganyaan mission aims to demonstrate Human Spaceflight capability to low earth orbit for a mission duration ranging from one orbital period to a maximum of seven days. A human-rated GSLV MK-III will be used to carry the orbital module which will have necessary provisions for sustaining a three-member crew for the duration of the mission.

 

The total fund for the Gaganyaan program is Rs 10,000 crore. According to ISRO two unmanned flights, one in December 2020 and, another one in July 2021 would be undertaken as part of the program, before the manned flight in early 2022.

 

In August 2018, PM Narendra Modi announced that India would send its first national spacecraft and crew to the International Space Station (ISS) around 2022 which will mark India's 75th anniversary of independence. The mission was named Gaganyan, which means "sky vehicle" in Sanskrit. Prior to the manned spaceflight, India will hold two uncrewed launches of Gaganyan.