Speaking this Tuesday in front of the cameras four astronauts who will pilot India’s first mission to spaceknown as Gaganyanplanned for 2025, immediately raised the question: why are there no women?

The astronauts will be part of a group of highly trained aviators with specialized skills known as “test pilots” This gives them the right to select projects of this type, which are considered elite aviators, according to a message from the Indian space agency to Indian media.

The President of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) S. Somanath explained this to the Indian TV channel. NDTV what for the first Gaganyan missions “will transport a selected and trained crew”.

According to this, at the time of testing for the selection of this crew, There were no women test pilots in India’s ranks..

Unlike other pilots, “test pilots” have specialized training and scientific knowledge to fly experimental aircraft.

“Our space sector places great importance on the power of women. Without women scientists this would not be possible. More than 500 women will occupy leadership positions in ISRO,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after introducing the four male astronauts.

Ironically, in the same month, the Indian Space Agency unveiled a humanoid robot that will accompany astronauts on a special ship called ‘Vyommitra’ (which is translated from Sanskrit as friend of the cosmos), having the appearance of a woman.

Although ISRO did not select a woman for its first mission, the Asian country had some expectations as out of the four people of Indian origin who have gone into space, two are women: Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams.

Mission Gaganyaan budget exceeding $1.080 million and plans to enter an orbit 400 kilometers high for a three-day mission before returning to Earth.