ISRO prefers woman fighter test pilots for its manned mission, possible in future, says Somanath
The Hindu
ISRO prefers female fighter test pilots/scientists for Gaganyaan mission. ISRO to send female humanoid robot in unmanned Gaganyaan mission next year. Mission aims to send humans into space for 3 days & bring them back safely. Possibilities for women lesser as no female fighter test pilots. ISRO's target to put operational space station by 2035. TV-D1 test vehicle launched with payloads related to Gaganyaan. Crew Escape System simulated to carry Crew Module of test vehicle out with precision.
ISRO prefers woman fighter test pilots or female scientists for its much-awaited human space flight programme Gaganyaan mission and it is possible to send them in the future, the space agency chief S. Somanath said on Sunday.
He also said ISRO would send a female humanoid - a robot that resembles a human - in its unmanned Gaganyaan spacecraft next year. The ambitious mission aims to send humans into space on a Low Earth Orbit of 400 km for three days and bring them safely back to the Earth.
"No doubt about it...but we have to find out such possible (women) candidates in the future," Somanath told PTI over phone in response to a query.
Also read: Gaganyaan: The mission to send Indians to space is on track
His statement came a day after the ISRO successfully launched its TV-D1 test vehicle ahead of the human space flight mission Gaganyaan.
He said the manned mission is expected by 2025 and that it will be a short duration mission.
"Right now, the initial candidates are to be from Air Force fighter test pilots...they are a bit different category. Right now, we are not having women fighter test pilots. So, once they come, that is one route," the Chairman said.