ISRO Opens Astronaut Cadre to Civilians for Gaganyaan Missions
Civilian STEM Specialists In ISRO’s 2nd Batch Of Astronauts? All You Need To Know
News 18
Image: News 18
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is expanding its astronaut selection to include civilians for the first time, proposing a second batch of 10 candidates, comprising 4 civilian STEM specialists and 6 military pilots. This shift aims to enhance expertise for long-term missions, including the upcoming Gaganyaan program.
- 01ISRO's second astronaut batch includes 4 civilian specialists and 6 military pilots.
- 02Training for the second batch is expected to last approximately 4.5 years.
- 03Civilian specialists are planned to participate in missions starting from the fourth Gaganyaan flight.
- 04ISRO aims to establish a total cadre of 40 astronauts for future missions.
- 05The agency is upgrading its training facilities to accommodate the larger astronaut corps.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced a significant change in its astronaut selection process by including civilians for the first time. The second batch will consist of 10 candidates, with 4 civilian specialists from STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) backgrounds and 6 military pilots. This decision marks a shift from the previous focus on military personnel, aiming to bring in diverse expertise for complex space missions. The training cycle for this new batch is projected to take about 4.5 years, with civilian specialists expected to participate in missions starting from the fourth Gaganyaan mission. ISRO has plans to expand its astronaut corps to a total of 40 astronauts to meet the demands of long-term human presence in space, including scientific research at the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035. To support this initiative, ISRO is upgrading its current temporary astronaut training center in Bengaluru to a permanent facility.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
This initiative will enhance India's capabilities in human spaceflight and scientific research, potentially leading to advancements in technology and education in STEM fields.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you support the inclusion of civilians in ISRO's astronaut program?
Connecting to poll...
More about Indian Space Research Organisation

IITM Launches Advanced Doppler Radar in Mahabaleshwar to Enhance Weather Forecasting
Hindustan Times • Apr 26, 2026
Skyroot Aerospace Prepares for India's First Private Orbital Mission with Vikram-1 Rocket
The Economic Times • Apr 25, 2026
Remembering Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan: The Visionary Behind India's Space Success
The Economic Times • Apr 24, 2026
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.
