Former Navy officer will support ISRO in country's first manned mission, expressed happiness on joining Gaganyaan mission

Former naval officer and solo voyager Commander Abhilash Tomy from Kerala will assist ISRO in connection with India's first manned space mission 'Gaganyaan'. It is worth mentioning that Commander Abhilash Tomy has finished second in the prestigious Golden Globe Race 2022.

Tommy has announced this while sharing a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He said in his post that he would consult with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on space exploration with respect to Gaganyaan.

He will also be working with the Indian Navy on their next voyage attempt, he added. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, "I will be working with the Navy on their next voyage attempt. Also, I am helping @isro in India's first manned space mission."

He posted, "Thrilled to be mentored for sea and space voyage together. Both are very close to my heart. Truly, adventure has an unknown outcome. #Gaganyaan."

Gaganyaan, the flagship project of ISRO, will carry a crew of three members for 3 days by launching into an orbit of 400 km and landing in seawater. The mission envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by returning them safely to Earth.

In April this year, Tommy created history by becoming the first Indian to complete the prestigious Golden Globe Race 2022. The retired Indian Navy officer finished second in the race, a solo worldwide sailing competition that began on September 4, 2022, at Les Sables-d'Olonne in France.

Previously, he participated in the 50th-anniversary edition of the Golden Globes in 2018 but was the victim of an accident when he finished third in that year's race. In fact, his boat got damaged in a storm and after successfully spending 82 days in the high seas, he suffered a serious spinal injury in this unfortunate incident. During that time Tommy was saved after a very complicated international effort.