“They say that the sky is the limit, but I am going even beyond,” remarks 21-year old Hardik Gajjar who has won a free space tour after winning a television contest.
Space-tourist-in-waiting, Hardik Gajjar, is thrilled about making a records of sorts
“They say that the sky is the limit, but I am going even beyond,” remarks 21-year old Hardik Gajjar who has won a free space tour after winning a television contest.
Ask what he plans to do in the spacecraft and the Ahmedabad-based science student laughs, “When I was first asked what I would do in space, I’d said I wanted to see how one could pee in zero gravity. But on a serious note, I want to somersault in space, take pictures, write notes and feast on my favourite dishes — Dhokla and Khandvi.”
Hardik admits that when he had first entered the contest run by Bindass, he had never imagined that he could possibly win it. “I had taken part in the contest hoping, at best, to win an I-pod. I hadn’t even dreamt of going to space. It’s just that I went on passing each level of audition and here I am!” he says.
For the contest, Hardik had to undergo a series of medical test followed by several rounds of auditions that tested his wit, creativity, presence of mind, and ability to handle pressure and deadlines.
Hardik feels that his skills in singing, dancing, mimicking and writing that helped him sail through those rigorous rounds. “In my childhood, I was scolded for not concentrating in studies and taking part in naach gaana. Well, it’s this naach gaana that is taking me so far today. This is a fitting reply to my relatives who looked down upon me,” he smiles.
“When people talk about their trips to London and Paris, I will boast about my trip to space and recount my experiences of living life at zero gravity. That should silence them forever,” he guffaws.
Hardik will leave for Oklahoma in the next few months where he will undergo actual preparations for the tour. The space tour will be headed by astronaut John Herrington, who is also the Director, Flight Operations for Rocketplane Limited.
Says Hardik, “I am going where no celebrity has gone. But more than the tour, I am excited about being the first common man of India to tour space.”
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