Angad Pratap

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
Angad Pratap
Angad Pratap (2025)
Born (1982-07-17) 17 July 1982 (age 43)
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
OccupationsIndian Air Force officer, astronaut‑designate
Known forSelected as astronaut for Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme

Angad Pratap (born 17 July 1982) is a group captain and test pilot with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and one of the gaganyatri (astronaut designate) with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) selected for India’s human spaceflight programme.[1][2] He is one among the four test pilots selected from the Indian Air Force to be part of the crew for the Gaganyaan mission.[3][4]

Early life and background

[edit]

Angad Pratap was born in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. [5]He completed his schooling from Springdales School and later completed his undergraduate degree from the National Defense Academy (NDA). He was commissioned into the fighter stream of Indian Air Force in December 2004.[6][7]

Military career

[edit]

Pratap is serving as a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force along with his current responsibilities as an astronaut designate . He has nearly 2,000 hours of flying experience and has flown a variety of aircraft used by the Indian Air Force, including the Su‑30 MKI, MiG‑21, MiG‑29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An‑32 among others. [8]He has also worked as a flying instructor and test pilot before being selected as an astronaut for India’s human spaceflight programme.[9][6]

Astronaut selection and training

[edit]

In 2019, Pratap was included as one among the test pilots in the selection process for astronauts by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), under the Indian Air Force (IAF). He was later shortlisted by IAM and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as one of the four astronaut‑designates for the Gaganyaan Programme.[10] In early 2020, he has undergone basic astronaut training in Russia at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. His training was completed in 2021. After returning to India, he continued further astronaut training at ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre (HSFC) in Bangalore. On 27 February 2024, his name was officially announced by the Prime Minister of India as part of India’s first human‑spaceflight crew.[11]

Role in Gaganyaan programme

[edit]

Pratap is part of India’s first astronaut cadre for the Gaganyaan programme. As of 2025, training continues in preparation for a crewed mission expected in 2027.[12][13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Gaganyaan: India names astronauts for maiden space flight". 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  2. ^ ""Gaganyaan Just Beginning": Astronaut-Designate On India's Space Future". www.ndtv.com. Archived from the original on 2025-07-15. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  3. ^ "Nair, Prathap, Krishnan and Chauhan listed for Gaganyaan mission". The Times of India. 2024-02-27. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  4. ^ Bharat, E. T. V. (2025-11-21). "Exclusive Interview | Astronaut Angad Pratap Opens Up On Rigorous Training And India's Human Spaceflight Future". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  5. ^ "Prayagraj Boy To IAF Pilot: Meet Group Captain Angadh Prathap, One Of The Astronauts Of Gaganyaan Mission". www.timesnownews.com. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  6. ^ a b "Angad Pratap | Education, IAF Career, & Gaganyaan | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2025-08-08. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  7. ^ "ISRO Gaganyaan: Check the educational qualifications of the four astronauts PM Modi chose for the mission". The Times of India. 2024-02-28. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  8. ^ "In mere 10 days, Gaganyaan astronaut completes 56-day spl mountaineering course in Darj". The Times of India. 2024-11-16. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  9. ^ "Who Are The Four Astronauts Selected For India's Crewed Space Mission Gaganyaan? Details Here - News18". News18. Archived from the original on 2025-05-13. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  10. ^ "'Best Job On Planet': Gaganyaan Astronaut-Designate Angad Pratap On Carrying A Billion Dreams | Interview - News18". News18. Archived from the original on 2025-05-22. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  11. ^ "What is Gaganyaatri Angad Pratap's astronaut training like? IAF officer answers". The Indian Express. 2025-04-21. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  12. ^ Koshy, Jacob (2025-05-06). "Gaganyaan mission moved to 'first quarter of 2027', says ISRO chief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  13. ^ India, Press Trust of (2025-10-23). "Isro says 90% of Gaganyaan Mission complete, crewed launch by 2027". India Today. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
[edit]