RoyalEddington6 at 00:52, 16 April 2026

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{{for|foreign astronauts of Indian origin|List of astronauts of Indian origin}}

On 3 April 1984, [[Rakesh Sharma]] became the first Indian to travel to space. He traveled on board [[Soyuz T-11]] to the space station [[Salyut 7]] as part of the Soviet [[Interkosmos]] programme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/the-down-to-earth-rakesh-sharma/article381946.ece/|title=The down to earth Rakesh Sharma|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=4 April 2010|access-date=5 April 2014|first=Pankaja|last=Srinivasan|archive-date=24 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724161536/http://m.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/the-down-to-earth-rakesh-sharma/article381946.ece/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the late 2000s, [[Indian Space Research Organisation]] (ISRO) announced that it is working on the technologies required for sending humans to space as a part of the [[Indian Human Spaceflight Programme]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200708091621.htm| title=ISRO considering manned space mission: Nair|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=9 August 2007|access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8483787.stm|title=India announces first manned space mission|work=[[BBC News]]|date=27 January 2010|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Gaganyaan Crew.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Members of the planned ''[[Gaganyaan]]'' program of the [[Indian Space Research Organisation]]]]

In 2018, the [[Government of India]] formally announced the launch of the ''[[Gaganyaan]]'' programme, which aimed to put a man in space by 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Indian will take national flag to space on board Gaganyaan by 2022, says PM Narendra Modi in Independence Day speech |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-will-take-national-flag-to-space-on-board-gaganyaan-by-2022-says-pm-narendra-modi-in-independence-day-speech/story-ctNAmDef79gbpj7OHrU8dP.html |work=[[The Hindustan Times]] |date=15 August 2018 |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> However, the plans were delayed partly due to the impact of [[COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kumar|first=Chethan|date=11 June 2020|title=Gaganyaan mission: No Gaganyaan unmanned flight this year |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/no-gaganyaan-unmanned-flight-this-year/articleshow/76315319.cms|access-date=13 June 2020|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> As per the revised timelines, the first crewed flight is planned as a part of ''[[Gaganyaan-4]]'', scheduled to launch in 2027.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/india-delays-its-1st-ever-gaganyaan-astronaut-launch-to-2026| title=India delays its 1st-ever Gaganyaan astronaut launch to 2026|work=[[Space.com]]|date=4 November 2024|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 May 2025 |title=India's Gaganyaan Mission in final phase, maiden crew launch in early 2027 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/gaganyaan-mission/story/indias-gaganyaan-mission-in-final-phase-maiden-crew-launch-in-early-2027-2720520-2025-05-06 |access-date=13 July 2025 |work=[[India Today]]}}</ref>) On 27 February 2024, four men (''Gaganyatri'') – [[Ajit Krishnan]], [[Angad Pratap]], [[Prasanth Nair]], and [[Shubhanshu Shukla]], from the [[Indian Air Force]] were announced as candidates for the human spaceflight programme.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 February 2024 |title=Astronauts on Isro's Gaganyaan mission trained at same centre in Russia where Rakesh Sharma underwent training |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/astronauts-on-gaganyaan-mission-trained-at-same-center-in-russia-where-rakesh-sharma-underwent-training/articleshow/108041061.cms |access-date=17 November 2025 |work=[[The Times of India]] |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> They trained at Russia's [[Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center]], where Sharma had trained in 1984.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gaganyaan Mission: How 4 Indian astronauts were trained in Russia - Gaganyaan astronauts named |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/gaganyaan-mission-how-4-indian-astronauts-were-trained-in-russia/gaganyaan-astronauts-named/slideshow/108043859.cms |access-date=17 November 2025 |work=[[The Economic Times]] }}</ref> Nair and Shukla trained at [[NASA]] facilities in preparation for their participation in the [[Axiom Mission 4]] to the [[International Space Station]].<ref>{{cite news |date=6 July 2024 |title=2 Gaganyaan astronauts to go to ISS aboard the Axiom Mission 4 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2-gaganyaan-astronauts-to-go-to-iss-aboard-the-axiom-4-mission-9435821/ |access-date=1 July 2025 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> Shukla flew to space on 25 June 2025 as a part of the mission,<ref name="ISS">{{cite news |date=26 June 2025|title=Shubhanshu Shukla: Astronaut becomes first Indian to set foot on ISS |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crenw0nyqnqo |access-date=9 July 2025 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla called Dr V Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO and acknowledged the efforts of the ISRO team in ensuring his safe travel to the ISS |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/GaganyatriShubhanshuShukla_called_Dr_V_Narayanan.html#:~:text=On%20July%2006,%202025,%20in,and%20Secretary,%20Department%20of%20Space. |access-date=9 July 2025 |work=[[ISRO]]}}</ref> while Nair was his backup.<ref>{{cite news |date=3 August 2024 |title=Who is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the 'prime astronaut' for Indo-US mission to space? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/who-is-shubhanshu-shukla-indo-us-space-mission-9492109/ |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=[[The Indian Express]] }}</ref>

On 19 May 2024, [[Gopichand Thotakura]] became the first Indian to take a [[suborbital flight]] to space, as a part of the [[Blue Origin NS-25]] mission.<ref name="ET">{{cite news |last=John |first=Nirmal |date=12 April 2024 |title=Meet Gopichand Thotakura, the 2nd Indian citizen in space after Rakesh Sharma |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/gopichand-thotakura-set-to-become-second-indian-citizen-in-space-after-rakesh-sharma-to-be-part-of-blue-origins-next-mission/articleshow/109226700.cms?from=mdr |access-date=29 October 2024 |work=[[The Economic Times]] |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

== List ==

Apart from the Indians who had traveled to space, the list also includes those who have trained for space travel but have not traveled to space.{{efn|name=Astro|Technically, the term 'astronaut' refers to only persons trained, equipped, and deployed by a human spaceflight program as a crew member of a spacecraft.}}

{| class="sortable wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Interkosmos|Interkosmos Program]]
|-
! Name
! Image
! Birth
! Time in Space
! Missions
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| [[Rakesh Sharma]]
| [[Image:Rakesh Sharma.jpg|100px]]
| 13 January 1949
| 7 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes
| {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Soyuz T-11]]<br>(3 April 1984)
|
*First Indian in space.
|-
| [[Ravish Malhotra]]
| [[File:Wing Commander Ravish Malhotra edit.jpg|100px]]
| 25 December 1943
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|
*Backup for Sharma in Soyuz T-11.
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|Suborbital Flight]]
|-
| style="background-color:#f0f8ff;" | [[Gopichand Thotakura]]
| style="background-color:#f0f8ff;" | 
| style="background-color:#f0f8ff;" | 1993
| style="background-color:#f0f8ff;" | 9 minutes, 53 seconds
| style="background-color:#f0f8ff;" | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Blue Origin NS-25]] (19 May 2024)
| style="background-color:#f0f8ff;" |
*Second Indian in space.
*First Indian to take a [[suborbital flight]] to space.
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Indian Human Spaceflight Programme]]
|-
! Name
! Image
! Birth
! Time in Space
! Missions
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| [[Shubhanshu Shukla]]
| [[File:Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla.jpg|100px]]
| 10 October 1985
| 20 days, 2 hours and 59 minutes
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Axiom Mission 4]]<br>(25 June 2025)
|
* Second Indian in [[Orbit]].
* Longest-stay by an Indian in space.
* First Indian in [[International Space Station|ISS]].
|-
| [[Prasanth Nair]]
|[[File:Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair.jpg|100px]]
| 26 August 1976
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|
* Backup for Shukla on Axiom Mission 4.
|-
| [[Ajit Krishnan]]
|[[File:Group Captain Ajit Krishnan.jpg|100px|]]
| 19 April 1982
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|
* Part of [[Gaganyaan]].
|-
| [[Angad Pratap]]
|[[File:Group Captain Angad Pratap.jpg|100px]]
| 17 July 1982
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|
* Part of Gaganyaan.
|}

==See also==
*[[History of spaceflight]]
*[[Human spaceflight]]
*[[List of Asian astronauts]]
*[[List of astronauts by selection]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Space exploration lists and timelines|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Indian astronauts|*]]
[[Category:Lists of astronauts by nationality|Indian]]
[[Category:Lists of Indian people by occupation|Astronauts]]
[[Category:Space programme of India]]

List of Indian astronauts - Revision history

RoyalEddington6 at 00:52, 16 April 2026