Narendra Modi made history as the newest prime minister to make an appearance at the VSSC at Isro’s Thiruvananthapuram headquarters in forty years. Wing Commander Angad Prathap is one among the four astronauts that the Gaganyaan mission is preparing to launch into space in 2025.
Angad Pratap Astronaut Biography
Indian astronaut Angad Prathap was born in Prayagraj on July 17, 1982. The Indian Air Force-affiliated Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) added Prathap to its roster of candidates for astronauts in 2019.Â
Later, IAM and ISRO selected him as one of four candidates. In 2020, he and three other chosen Vyomanauts traveled to Russia for basic training. In 2021, fundamental instruction was finished. After coming back to India, he trained at Bangalore’s Astronaut Training Center.
On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the official announcement of the astronaut participants for the maiden space mission India at ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Center in Thiruvananthapuram. This was the first time his name was made public as a part of the crew.
Angad Pratap Early Life, Education and Career
In Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad, on July 17, 1982, Angad Pratap arrived in the world. His height is 5 feet 9 inches and his weight is 50 kg. After completing his elementary education in his village, he enrolled in Pune’s Khadakwasla National Defence Academy (NDA).Â
After completing the NDA in 2004, he joined the Indian Air Force as an aircraft pilot on 18 December 2004. He became a wing commander in December 2017. Additionally, he finished his military flight studies at the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), located in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, and the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), located in Wellington, New Zealand.Â
Despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, he underwent intensive instruction at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Russia for around 13 months to prepare to become an astronaut for the Gaganyaan Mission.
He has more than two thousand hours of aviation experience and works as a test pilot and aviation teacher. He flew aircraft, such as the Jaguar, Dornier, Hawk, Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, and MiG-29.
Angad Pratap Recently selected for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s)
Four fighter pilots from the Indian Air Force (IAF) who have been selected as astronauts to fly on Gaganyaan, the nation’s first space mission, next year, have logged at least 2000 hours of flight time.Â
Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed the identities of Group Captain Prashanth Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla as he awarded them astronaut stripes on Tuesday at an assessment of the Gaganyaan mission’s advancement.
Out of the four IAF officers shortlisted for the space mission, Wing Commander Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair is the most experienced one.Â
Angad Pratap Awards & Achievements
Among the honors and accomplishments bestowed upon Group Captain Angad Pratap are:
- At the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad’s leaving out parade, he was given the Sword of Honour. The top all-around soldier in each course receives this award, which is the greatest accolade.
- He finished his military training in aircraft at the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), in Montgomery, Alabama, USA13, and the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington. These esteemed establishments instruct officers in cutting-edge military techniques and management.
- He operated a variety of aircraft, such as the Jaguar, Dornier, Hawk, Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, and MiG-29. In addition, he has 2,000 hours of aviation experience and is a licensed pilot and flying teacher.
Angad Pratap’s Personal Life and Net Worth
The parents of Angad Pratap are Koolanghaat Prameela Nair and Valampil Balakrishnan Nair. His mother stays at home while his father, a professional engineer, is a former government worker.Â
He has a sister named Pratibha who resides in Thrissur, Kerala, and two brothers, Pradeep and Praveen, both are also engineers and have moved abroad. Lena Kumar, a well-known author and performer from Malayalam cinema, is his wife. They have a daughter and a boy.
Although Angad Pratap’s exact net worth is unknown, his monthly income as a Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force is thought to be close to Rs. 1.5 lakh3. In addition, he possesses a few homes and assets, although the exact worth is unknown.Â