The Hindu Business Line : Space tourist to start journey within six to 18 months

KOTTAYAM: If all goes well, Santhosh George Kulangara, the country's first non-professional astronaut, will start his journey into space within six to 18 months in the inaugural flight of Virgin Galactic, the world's first private spaceline. Kulangara, a 36-year-old businessman hailing from Pala here, has successfully completed his second phase of training for space tourists at the National Aero-space Training and Research Centre at Southampton in Pensylvannia, US, recently.

He was among a batch of six who underwent training in G-Tolerance flight and sub-orbital flight at the centrifuge simulator at the centre. “I had the experience of feeling lightweight when we go up. I felt the 3G experience instead of 6G experience when we re-enter the earth's atmosphere'', Kulangara, a widely travelled person, told PTI here.

He has completed zero gravity training at the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida and has also attended the launch ceremony of the space vehicle 'White Knight II' at Mohavi space spaceport in U.S.

“Now I am waiting for the final phase of training for the ultimate journey into space,'' Kulangara, who has returned here after the training, said. “Before my journey into space I have to keep my weight and other health parameters intact,'' the businessm an, who has already toured 55 countries and is famous among Keralities through his TV programme “Sancharam'', said.

The four hour travel into space will cost him not less than US dollars two lakh, which will be supported by sponsors. He has also signed up with Virgin Galactic for filming his space travel. – PTI

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