Four Indian astronauts undergoing generic space flight training in Russia as part of Gaganyaan Programme nearing completion: Dr Jitendra Singh

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr.Jitendra Singh said that four Indian astronaut candidates are currently undergoing generic space flight training in Russia as part of GaganyaanProgramme. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, he said, the astronaut training activities in Russia are nearing completion. Major modules such as survival training (snow, water and steppe), parabolic flights, theoretical classes on orbital mechanics, astro-navigation and some Soyuz systems have been completed.

DrJitendra Singh said, Government of India has made reforms in Space sector by enabling private sector participation in Space activities.He said, the intention is to provide level playing field for private companies in satellites, launches and space-based services, to bring in predictable policy and regulatory environment to private players, to provide access to ISRO facilities and other relevant assets to improve their capacities, to provide opportunities in selected areas of planetary exploration, outer space travel, etc. to private sector and to liberalize the existing geo-spatial data policy for providing remote-sensing data to entrepreneurs.

DrJitendra Singh said that PSLV-C51 carried Amazonia-1 optical earth observation satellite of National Institute of Space Research of Brazil along with 18 small satellites on February 28, 2021.