Defence Minister Honors ISRO Astronauts, Highlights India's Space Aspirations
In a ceremony held in New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh honored the astronauts of ISRO's inaugural human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan. The astronauts, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain PB Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, and Group Captain Angad Pratap, were recognized for their significant contributions.
The Defence Minister referred to the astronauts as "gems of the country" and emphasized their role as pioneers of India's space ambitions. He articulated that space is not merely a research field but a pivotal element for the future, encompassing the economy, security, energy, and humanity.
Highlighting India's ascent as a space power, Singh pointed to past accomplishments such as Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan. He described Gaganyaan as a landmark in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, noting that space technology currently benefits villages and farmers through satellite services, weather forecasting, and disaster management. He added that the future includes opportunities in space mining, deep space exploration, and accessing planetary resources.
Singh also commended Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for his recent mission to the International Space Station with Axiom Mission 4. Shukla's achievement of completing extensive astronaut training in a remarkably short period of 2.5 months was praised as a testament to India's resolve and the synergy between civilian and military efforts.
The event was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. During the ceremony, Group Captain Shukla recounted his experiences in space travel and acknowledged the Institute of Aerospace Medicine's vital role in equipping India's astronauts for upcoming missions.
