Keralite to be India’s first space tourist

NEW DELHI: Santosh George Kulangara has a confirmed booking on a vacation that will take him thousands of miles away from backpackers, cheap hotels, and souvenir sellers. His destination is the veritable final frontier: space.

Kulangara, a Kerala-based entrepreneur and TV journalist, has reserved his place as India’s first space tourist. He will take off on the Virgin Galactic flight from America by the end of next year.

“It was big news in 2004 when Virgin announced the launch of its first spaceship,” Kulangara said. “I contacted them immediately and was told to wait for a year and a half. Now, I have finally been given confirmation that I am the first space tourist from India.”

Kulangara’s request to film the sub-orbital space flight has also been granted. “I have been involved in making travelogues of my various travels,” said Kulangara, who has visited 50 countries. “This is going to be a unique opportunity for me to show the experience of space travel to my people.”

The spaceship, which will carry four space tourists and two pilots, will take its passengers on a two-to-three-hour sortie. “I am really looking forward to the flight,” Kulangara said. “I am not at all nervous. Space tourism will soon become so common that it will be like taking a flight from London to New York.”

Kulangara has spent $20,000 (circa Rs8,81,400) for securing his seat; he will have to pay another $180,000 (Rs79,32,600) for joining the historic expedition. He will undergo a week’s training for a trip that requires more specialised preparation than familiarising facts from the Rough Guide.

“I love travelling. But this will be a completely different experience,” Kulangara said. “Every time I travel outside the country, I get gifts for my daughter. This time I don’t know what I will get for her.”