Ajit Krishnan Astronaut Biography
Ajit Krishnan is an Indian Air Force pilot and an astronaut. He is one of the four selected for India’s first manned mission to space, Gaganyaan, which is planned to launch in 2025.
He hails from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and was awarded the President’s Gold Medal and Sword of Honour for his outstanding performance at the Air Force Training Academy.
He has more than 2,900 hours of flying experience and is a test pilot for various aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Dornier, and An-32. He received his astronaut wings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2024.
Ajit Krishnan Age
Ajit Krishnan is 42 years old as of 2024.
Ajit Krishnan Early Life and Education
Ajit Krishnan was born on 19 April 1982 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He grew up in a middle-class family with a keen interest in science and aviation. He was inspired by the stories of Indian space pioneers like Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, and Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian woman in space.
He decided to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot and joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) after completing his 12th standard. He demonstrated outstanding academic and physical prowess during his time at the NDA, earning him the prestigious President’s Gold Medal for achieving the top position in the overall order of merit. He also received the Sword of Honour for being the best all-round cadet. He graduated from the NDA in 2001 and joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter stream.
He underwent rigorous training at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad, where he learned to fly various aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Dornier, and An-32. He displayed exceptional flying skills and was selected as a test pilot, a highly coveted and challenging role in the IAF. He also attended the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington, where he honed his leadership and management skills.
Ajit Krishnan Career
Ajit Krishnan joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) after completing his 12th standard and graduated in 2001. He then joined the IAF fighter stream and underwent rigorous training at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad.
He was commissioned into the IAF on 21 June 2003 and displayed exceptional flying skills. He has more than 2,900 hours of flying experience and has flown various aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Dornier, and An-32.
He was selected as a test pilot, a highly coveted and challenging role in the IAF, and contributed to the development and testing of various indigenous aircraft and systems, such as Tejas, Saras, and Astra.
He also attended the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington, where he honed his leadership and management skills. He has participated in several missions and exercises, both at home and abroad, and has received many commendations and awards for his service to the nation.
He was among the four IAF pilots who were shortlisted for the Gaganyaan project, India’s first manned space mission, in 2019. He underwent extensive training in Russia for 11 months, along with the other three astronauts, Group Captain Prashanth Nair, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla. They learned various aspects of spaceflight, such as orbital mechanics, spacecraft systems, survival skills, and microgravity simulation.
He returned to India in March 2020 and continued his training at the ISRO facilities in Bengaluru. He also visited the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, where he interacted with the scientists and engineers working on the Gaganyaan mission. He was involved in the design and testing of the crew module, the service module, the environmental control and life support system, and the crew escape system.
He received his astronaut wings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 February 2024, along with the other three astronauts, at a ceremony held at the VSSC. He was also felicitated by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He expressed his gratitude to the nation and his mentors for giving him this opportunity and said that he was ready to take 140 crore aspirations of India to space.
He is expected to be among the first to go off on the space mission scheduled for 2025. He will orbit the Earth for three days at a height of 400 km and conduct various experiments related to microgravity, biology, and astronomy. He will also communicate with the ground station and the public through live video and audio links. He will then return to Earth and land in the seas of the Indian Ocean, where he will be recovered by the Indian Navy.
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Ajit Krishnan Wife and Kids
Ajit Krishnan is married to Dr. Priya Krishnan, a cardiologist at Apollo Hospital. They have two children, a son named Arjun and a daughter named Ananya.
Ajit Krishnan Net Worth
Ajit Krishnan has an estimated net worth of $300,000 as of 2024.
