India's 1st space tourist designate undergoes 2nd stage training

Kottayam, Aug 9 (UNI) Santhosh George Kulangara, country's first space tourist designate, has successfully completed the Gravity Tolerance Training held at the National Aero Space Training and Research (NASTAR) Centre at Southampton in Philadelphia on July 31 and August 1.

Mr Santhosh is slated to fly on board Virgin Galactic's Space Ship.

Globetrotter Santhosh George Kulangara, who came here after the training said, ''It was a tough experience.'' Gravity tolerance was a series of trainings, in which the gravity would be increased three to six times gradually. It included classroom training, exercise and practical, he said.

Astronauts' gravity would increase six times during the entry and re-entry to and from the space. There were a total of six people from the UK, Germany, Canada and the US for the training along with him.

Gravity tolerance training was the second stage of the training, first being Zero Gravity Training, which was held in August last year.

He had already visited more than 50 countries and his travelogue on various countries was being telecast. Australia was the 50th country he had visited under the 'Sanjaram' (Journey) programme. He also got a permission for filming the whole gamut of preparations and flight sequences, he said.

The Virgin Galactic had already test-flown its Space Ship-- White Knight one. White Knight two would take the tourists to space and Mr Santhosh hoped to get the chance within six months to two years.

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