BENGALURU: The Level-1 selection of astronauts for the proposed human spaceflight programme—Gaganyaan—has been completed well within time by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) under the Indian Air Force (IAF), Air Marshal MS Butola, director-general medical services (Air) said on Thursday.

Twelve men, all test pilots, completed the first level of selection for Gaganyaan— scheduled for 2022 — in the first week of September. Sixty test pilots had participated in the selection process.

“We have completed the task of selecting the Astronauts well within time and completed it well. The task ahead is complex, intense and time-consuming. Many advanced countries have faced challenges and abandoned it (human space programme),” he said.

Selected astronauts of Gaganyaan, after the initial training, will be sent to Russia for advanced training before returning to India for mission-specific training.

Butola added that India is the first country to live launch a human in space, unlike others who have sent animals to space as an experiment before their actual human mission.

IAM, it's commandant Air Commodore Anupam Banerjee said: "The initial selection is the first of the 16 tasks given to IAM. The remaining ones will be more complex."

Chief of Air Staff air chief marshal RKS Bhadauria, while stating that the selection of astronauts has been done most professionally, said: "The importance of the IAM team in terms of design is vast. We'll help ensure Isro achieve its challenging mission."

