Indian astronauts to the ISS: Indian astronauts to soon sit for training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas

In the month of November 2023, ISRO chief, S Somanath shared with the nation about the joint effort by ISRO and NASA to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station. S Somanath stated back then that Indian astronauts would take off to the ISS in an American spaceflight, while also expressing the Indian space fraternity’s motive to train their astronauts at US facilities.

#WATCH | Kolkata: ISRO Chief S Somanath on NASA working to send Indian astronaut to the space station; says, "It's an announcement based on our PM and President of the US meeting and this idea was mooted. We are taking it forward that's what the NASA chief said that Indian… pic.twitter.com/Bep2DTQhRB

— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

This motive has seen major developments in recent times. According to the latest developments, the Indian astronauts will soon receive training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas for a Space Station-bound flight mission.

Reports state that the selected astronauts have already completed their initial training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia. However, authorities haven’t disclosed the identities of these astronauts yet.

This will be the first time after four decades that an Indian astronaut will travel to space. It was in the year 1984 when Wing Rakesh Sharma wrote history as the first Indian citizen to travel to space.

ISRO and the nation now look forward to the near future when an Indian astronaut will be on a manned mission to space once again.

The upcoming training mission will ensure advanced practical experience for Indian astronauts. On acquiring this experience, India’s Gaganyaan mission will move a step closer which aims to send Indian astronauts to space and vice-versa.