Angad Pratap
Angad Pratap | |
|---|---|
Pratap, being felicitated by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in 2024 | |
| Born | 17 July 1982 Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations | |
| Space career | |
| ISRO astronaut | |
| Selection | 1st Gaganyatri Group (2019) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | India |
| Branch | Indian Air Force |
| Service years | 2004–present |
| Rank | Group captain |
Angad Pratap (born 17 July 1982) is a group captain and test pilot with the Indian Air Force and gaganyatri (astronaut) with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). In 2019, he was one of the four men identified to be trained for the Gaganyaan mission of the ISRO, part of the Indian human spaceflight programme.
Early life and education
Pratap was born in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.[1] He completed his schooling at Springdales School. He later graduated from the National Defence Academy, and joined the Air Force Academy.[2]
Defence career
Pratap was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 18 December 2004. As of 2025, Pratap holds the rank of group captain in the Indian Air Force. He has over 2,900 flying hours of experience, in aircraft such as Antonov An-32, Dornier Do 228, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, Mikoyan MiG-29, and Sukhoi Su-30 MKI. He initially served as a flying instructor before qualifying as a test pilot.[2][3][4] He served as a flying instructor and test pilot prior to his selection for the human spaceflight programme.[5]
Astronaut career
In 2019, Pratap was shortlisted by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine for the Gaganyaan programme of the ISRO. He was among four candidates selected for training as a part of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.[6][7] He trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia from 2020 to 2021.[8] He later underwent mission-specific training at ISRO's Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru.[9]
On 27 February 2024, ISRO officially introduced Pratap as a member of the astronaut team for Gaganyaan, India's planned first human spaceflight mission.[10] As of 2025, he continued to train as part of the Gaganyaan crew, with the first crewed mission expected in 2027.[11][12]
References
- ^ "Prayagraj Boy To IAF Pilot: Meet Group Captain Angad Prathap". Times Now. 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Angad Pratap – Biography". Britannica. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "All you need to know about the Gaganyaan astronauts". NDTV. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Gaganyaan astronaut completes mountaineering course". The Times of India. 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Who Are The Four Astronauts Selected For India's Crewed Space Mission Gaganyaan?". News18. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Pandey, Geeta (27 February 2024). "Gaganyaan: India names astronauts for maiden space flight". BBC News. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Rajwi, Tiki (27 February 2024). "ISRO's Gaganyaan mission: PM Modi announces Indian astronaut designates". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ "ISRO's astronaut trainees return after completing training in Russia". The Hindustan Times. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Kumar, Chethan. "Nair, Prathap, Krishnan and Chauhan listed for Gaganyaan mission". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "PM announces Gaganyaan astronauts". BBC News. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Koshy, Jacob (6 May 2025). "Gaganyaan mission moved to first quarter of 2027". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ "Gaganyaan: India names astronauts for maiden space flight". BBC News. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2025.