Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday to inaugurate key space infrastructure projects. Modi, who will also be reviewing India’s ambitious programme to send humans to space will also be announcing the names of astronauts who will be part of the Gaganyaan mission.
The prime minister will be visiting Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram and inaugurating three projects. “The projects include the PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; new ‘Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and stage Test facility’ at ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri; and ‘Trisonic Wind Tunnel’ at VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram. These three projects providing world-class technical facilities for the space sector have been developed at a cumulative cost of about Rs. 1,800 crore,” a release said.
Narendra Modi will also be bestowing ‘astronaut wings’ to the astronaut-designates. “During his visit, the Prime Minister will also review the progress of Gaganyaan Mission and bestow ‘astronaut wings’ to the astronaut-designates. The Gaganyaan Mission is India’s first human space flight program for which extensive preparations are underway at various ISRO centres,” it said.
According to reports, one of the four astronauts is rumoured to be a Keralite. ISRO targets to launch Ganganyaan in 2025 and ISRO chairman S. Somanath had earlier said that 2024 will be a year of "Gaganyaan readiness."
