Bringing a rare chance for young Indians to gain basic knowledge about space travel at a cheaper rate, India's first astronaut camp has begun at Dandeli in south Indian state Karnataka.
A collaborative venture of Sandip Joshi, a pioneer of edu-tourism in India and Chris Barber of UK-based International Space School Education Trust (ISSET), the camp is expected to become attract many young space enthusiasts.
According to the organisers, such camps were a preserve of western countires, especially US ,till recently and by this camp Indian students can also get an exposure in the subject without going US.
"Until now, Indian children has to go to the US to participate in such camps spending about Rs 1.75 lakh. We are offering the same quality camp at a cheaper rate," Joshy said.
The study material and other inputs for the programme have come in from Andrew Cline, a renowned leadership and organisation development consultant and coach and trainer to astronauts like late Kalpana Chawla and current NASA astronaut
Sunita Williams.
Though the camp began at Dandeli, the place best known for its wildlife sanctuary and tourism, the promoters were planning to conduct camps at Bandipur also.
"We plan to conduct 70 to 80 camps a year except in the months of June, July and August and we expect 15,000 to 20,000 students to participate in such camps every year," he said.