Fighter pilot, astronaut, and rocket scientist Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair is a test pilot and fighter combat leader in the Indian Air Force who has been chosen as the backup mission pilot for the Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station and as one of four astronauts for India's Gaganyaan mission to low Earth orbit. (more) Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair Indian fighter pilot and astronaut Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Prasanth-Balakrishnan-Nair Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Prasanth-Balakrishnan-Nair Written by Shabnam Dohutia Shabnam Dohutia is executive editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. Having worked in various editorial positions at Oxford University Press and Pearson, Shabnam has almost two decades’ experience in content... Shabnam Dohutia Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Oct 29, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Quick Facts Born: August 26, 1976, Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, India (Show more) Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (born August 26, 1976, Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, India) is one of the four astronauts selected for India’s Gaganyaan crewed space mission to low Earth orbit, planned for 2025. A test and fighter pilot of group captain rank in the Indian Air Force (IAF), Nair is also one of the astronauts selected for the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), along with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. Shukla will be the primary mission pilot for Ax-4, and Nair will be his backup. The second of four siblings, Nair was born to Vilambil Balakrishnan Nair, an engineer, ...(100 of 649 words)

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