New Delhi: As India is brimming with pride and waiting for the success of Chandrayaan-2, the Indian Air Force (IAF)has given another reason to be happy about. In its Twitter handle, the IAF announced that India has completed level-1 selection of astronauts for Mission Gaganyaan.

"#MissionGaganyaan -IAF completed Level-1 of Indian Astronaut selection at Institute of Aerospace Medicine. Selected Test Pilots underwent extensive physical exercise tests, lab investigations, radiological tests, clinical tests & evaluation on various facets of their psychology," Indian Air Force tweeted.

Mission Gaganyaan is set for a 2022 launch and it will be the country's maiden manned space mission. Earlier, reports had claimed that Gaganyaan will be launched in December 2021.

Reports claim that the IAF has shortlisted 10 potential astronauts for Gaganyaan. Out of the 10, two are likely to be chosen for the mission.

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The Union Cabinet had given its nod for the Rs 9,023 crore programme for Gaganyaan. "We have resolved that by 2022, when India celebrates 75 years of Independence or maybe even before that, certainly some of our young boys and girls will unfurl the tricolour in space," PM Modi had said in his speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

Currently, all eyes are on Chandrayaan-2 rover's soft landing on the moon that is set for September 7. If successful, the mission would make India the fourth country after Russia, the US, and China to achieve the feat.

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