ISRO Chairman Dr. K Sivan has announced that four air men from Indian Air Force have been identified for India’s first manned mission to space, Gaganyan.

Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru today he said the four chosen airmen will undergo astronauts’ training in Russia from third week of January. Gaganyan is planned to be launched in 2022 as announced by the Prime Minister.

The ISRO Chairman said an unmanned mission will be launched this year to test human rating of propulsion model and microgravity simulations. Dr. Siven also informed Chandrayan-3 mission has been approved by the Government.

This will be launched without an orbiter. He said the lander and rover will be soft landing in the south pole of lunar surface. It will carry out experiments that were planned during Chandrayan-2.

Dr. Sivan also announced today that a second satellite launch station will come up in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu for which 2300 acre land will be acquired. He said initially small satellites will be launched from here.