New Delhi, Apr 24: Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has underlined the urgent need to build sovereign space infrastructure to bolster India’s national security. Speaking to IANS on Friday, Shukla emphasized that indigenous satellite communication has already played a crucial role in operations such as ‘Operation Sindoor’ and must be further strengthened to safeguard the nation’s strategic interests.

“Yes, it is the backbone which we have to make stronger. We need to create a space infrastructure for national security. Our backbone should be strong,” Shukla said, adding that initiatives like SBS-3 are already moving in this direction. He expressed confidence that India will soon have a robust and self-sufficient infrastructure to meet national security requirements.

Shukla is among the astronauts selected for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) ambitious Gaganyaan mission, the country’s first human space flight programme. Reflecting on the preparations, he explained that human space missions are far more complex than satellite launches. “A human space mission is much more complex. Many technologies need to be developed for this because in this case a human life needs to be preserved when he or she is sent into space. That is why it takes time,” he noted.

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He further elaborated on the uncertainty astronauts face during developmental programmes, where mission concepts often evolve over time. “Initially a mission begins with some concept but later on it gets modified into something else. This is a part of the process. I am happy that work is being done on these things on a fast track basis,” Shukla said, while refraining from commenting on a specific timeline. He stressed that confidence in the mission’s schedule will only come after successful test flights.

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, another astronaut selected for Gaganyaan, echoed Shukla’s optimism. He highlighted ongoing preparations, including prototype training in Leh, psychological and medical training with the Aerospace Medicine Department, and design reviews of the Gaganyaan capsule at ISRO. “In India, we are always prepared. Everything is going on well,” Nair remarked.

The Gaganyaan mission represents a significant milestone for India’s space programme, aiming to send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit. With voices like Shukla and Nair stressing both national security and technological readiness, India’s journey into human spaceflight is gathering momentum.