Six-day camp in Dandeli for aspiring astronauts

“Astronauts are trained for several years before they go on a mission. An entire six months are dedicated to training to acquire special skill sets required to perform as a team. Mission Apollo will help in providing a similar experience,” said Sandeep Joshi,director,Mission Apollo.

“The modules will be on the same lines of the NASA Astronaut Outdoor Training Programme. Chris Barber from ISSET UK and Michelle Ham,Astronaut Trainer,NASA,will be conducting the camp,” he said.

“Students will be trained by specialists through interactive and outdoor activities to develop skills such as leadership,team spirit,decision making,crisis management,interpersonal skills enhancement and so on,” said Joshi. “The camp will broaden the perspective of students. Students will also be certified as Astronaut Cadet by the Sheffield Hallam University,UK,and Astronaut Memorial Foundation (USA),” said Barber.

Rick Chappell,former director-Science Center at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center,former NASA Astronaut Joan Higginbotham,Jay Honeycutt former director of Kennedy Space Center are key members of the camp.