New Delhi: The astronauts on the human space mission ‘Gaganyaan’ will mostly be pilots, hinted Indian Space Research Organisation scientists on Friday. “We are looking for people with sufficient flying experience,” said an ISRO scientist requesting anonymity. ISRO Chairman K Sivan said the Indian Air Force and other agencies will play a major role during the selection of astronauts for the human space mission project.
Another scientist said the Defence Research and Development Organisation too will play a major role in this endeavour. Addressing a press conference here, Sivan said the first unmanned mission for ‘Gaganyaan’ has been planned for December 2020, the second unmanned mission for July 2021 and the final manned mission by December 2021.
He said the selection process will also start this year. The ISRO has already established a Human Space Flight Centre for Gaganyaan project, reports PTI. The ISRO on Friday announced a Young Scientists programme under which three school students will be selected from each state and union territory and will be given lectures on space and hands-on experience in building small satellites. Under this one-month programme, selected students, mostly Class 8 pass students, will be given lectures and access to research laboratories,” ISRO Chairman K. Sivan told reporters here.
