Kerala Man Santosh George Could Become India's First Space Tourist, Hopes To Capture Exploration On Camera

Santhosh George Kulangara might not be a household name, but he has made a successful career as a travel documentary filmmaker. Having travelled over 130 countries, his experiences and sights of journeys are telecasted through Sancharam, the first visual travelogue in Malayalam.

While he has travelled across the world, Santhosh may also become one of the lucky ones to fly into space, if all goes to plan. He could become India's first space tourist - through Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic Mission - by 2022.

Deccan Chronicle

It all came through an ad in 2005, which was about giving the common man a chance to explore space through a new mission by Branson, The Times of India reported. Santhosh thought, why not give it a go. He mailed the organisers, who, after various rounds of tests, interviews and contracts, roped in the 49-year-old to join the mission, in 2007.

However, due to various reasons - test mission failures and COVID-19 pandemic - the mission was delayed. But recently, it was announced that after Branson and team ¡ª which will include Indian-origin astronaut Sirisha Bandla ¡ª do their first round of the mission on July 11, tourists, including Santhosh, will be flying to space within months.

Wikipedia

Talking to TOI, he said the whole training has been gruesome, but it's going to be all worth it. He said he is looking forward to experience things like a spacewalk, which they were told they would only be able to do only within the ship.

Santhosh is quite excited about the prospect of flying into space. He is hoping to capture most of his space exploration trip on his camera, so that he can share it back home with the audience.

If Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo makes the real trip as planned, Santhosh will make history.

We hoping he achieves the dream and makes the country proud.