India, France in talks for Mission Alpha-like equipment for Gaganyaan

Four short-listed Indian Air Force pilots and prospective astronauts for the Gagangyaan mission are currently undergoing training in Russia.

Space agencies of India and France are in an advanced stage of discussions for providing necessary equipment to Gaganyaan' astronauts, similar to the one to be used by French astronaut Thomas Pesquet for Mission Alpha next year, officials said.

A senior official of the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), the space agency of France, said work on the equipment for Mission Alpha is on.

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, as part of the European Space Agency (ESA), will be returning to the International Space Station (ISS) while flying on Crew Dragon spacecraft early next year.

"Discussions are in the final