Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair Biography Wikipedia, Age, Wife, Family & Caste

Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair Biography Wikipedia, Age, Wife, Family & Caste, Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair is an Indian Air Force personnel and astronaut who was chosen as the Commander of the team of astronauts for the 2025 Gaganyaan Mission. He was born on August 26, 1976, in Thiruvazhiyad village, Palakkad district, Kerala, India. He is 47 years old as of 2023. Nair joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) while studying at Engineering College in Palakkad.

Nair’s wife is Lena Kumar, a renowned novelist and actress from the Malayalam cinema industry. The pair wed in a private ceremony held in Palakkad on January 17, 2024, after falling in love through a common friend. The wedding was attended by close family members and friends. Nair’s wife announced their marriage through a social media post showing the historic moment with pride after Nair was declared one of the crew members of the Gaganyaan mission on February 27, 2024.

Nair’s selection for the Gaganyaan mission has made him a local hero in his hometown of Palakkad. His neighbors and friends are excited about his achievement, and his selection has been celebrated throughout the state of Kerala. Nair’s family members were present in Thiruvananthapuram to witness the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, unveiling the names of the astronauts for the Gaganyaan mission.

Early Life and Education

Contents hide

1 Early Life and Education

2 Career

2.1 Early Career

2.2 Notable Achievements

Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair was born on August 26, 1976, in Thiruvazhiyad village, Palakkad district, Kerala, India. His father worked in Kuwait, and the family moved there when Prasanth was a child. However, they had to return to India following the outbreak of the Gulf War in 1990.

Prasanth completed his schooling in Palakkad and went on to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He then joined the Indian Air Force in 1998 and completed his training as a fighter pilot.

During his tenure in the Indian Air Force, Prasanth underwent several training programs, including the Flight Test Engineer Course at the Air Force Test Pilot School in California, USA. He also completed a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Alabama, USA.

Prasanth’s interest in space exploration led him to apply for the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme, and he was selected as one of the four astronaut candidates. He is currently undergoing training for the Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts to space by 2022.

Overall, Prasanth’s early life and education laid the foundation for his successful career as a test pilot and astronaut candidate.

Career

Early Career

Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair started his career by joining the National Defense Academy (NDA) while he was still a student at NSS Engineering College, Palakkad. He was commissioned in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in December 1998. During his tenure in the IAF, he served in various capacities including as a Squadron Leader, Flight Commander, Chief Operations Officer, and Station Commander. He has flown various aircraft, including the MiG-21, MiG-27, and Su-30MKI fighter jets.

Notable Achievements

Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair has achieved many notable feats in his career. He was selected as the Commander of the team of astronauts for the 2025 Gaganyaan Mission, which is India’s first manned space mission. He was declared one of the crew members of the Gaganyaan mission on 27 February 2024. This is a significant achievement for him and a proud moment for the country.

Apart from this, he has also received many awards and honors for his service to the nation. He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for his exceptional service during the Kargil War. He was also awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service in the IAF.

Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair has had a distinguished career in the Indian Air Force and is now set to make history as part of India’s first manned space mission.

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