In a major development, the four Indian astronaut-elects, who left for Russia on Friday (7 February), have started their 12-month long training on Monday (10 February) for the maiden manned space mission of India, reports Times of India.

The four Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilots, who were picked after thorough selection by the Indian Space Research Organisation, have started their training at the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC) in Russia.

“GCTC has started the planned training program of Indian candidates for a spaceflight under the contract between Glavkosmos, JSC (part of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos) and the Human Spaceflight Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),” the Glavkosmos said in a statement.

The 12-month training will include comprehensive and biomedical training, which will be combined with regular physical practices.

"In addition, they will study in detail the systems of the Soyuz manned spaceship, as well as they will be trained in short-term weightlessness mode aboard the special Il-76MDK aircraft," Glavkosmos added.

The Indian pilots will also be trained to act correctly in case of abnormal landing of the manned spaceship descent module in various climate and geographic zones. The most part of the training will take place at the GCTC facilities, the statement added.

The contract for training of the Indian candidates for a spaceflight between Gavkosmos and the Human Spaceflight Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation was signed on 27 June 2019.