[Desi Masala] Jay Patel to be 1st Indian space tourist

Jay Patel to be 1st Indian space tourist

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1236394

March 5, 2009 3:12 IST
Ahmedabad: Known for globetrotting, the world, it seems, is not enough
for the Gujarati community. Jay Patel will soon boldly go where no
Amdavadi has gone before: space, the final frontier.

Jay Patel, 29, is set to be the first Gujarati to tour space.Patel,
29, who was born in the city and is set to be the first Gujarati to
tour space, belongs to a diamond merchants' family based in New York.
He has interests in the hospitality business and is fascinated by
aviation.

His 18-hour space flight may take place in November or by January
2010. Hollywood star John Travolta, Patel's neighbour, is likely to be
his co-passenger.Joining Patel and Travolta on the Space Van, a craft
belonging to the United States-based PanAero Inc, will be Russian
realty magnate Sergei Polonsky.

Space Van 2010 has secured an in-principle approval from NASA, and
preparations are on for the November launch.

"I was informed by PanAero last week that the got approval from NASA,"
Patel said. "This is a great feeling. Preparations for the flight are
in the final stages." His enthusiasm for the flight has been
intensifying since 2005, when he paid the passenger fare of $2,00,000
(about Rs10,411,244).

"As soon as I heard about the flight, I knew I had to be there," Patel
said. "I am doing this for India, so that we continue to be part of
the world's most ambitious projects."
The passengers will have to undergo rigorous training for 35 days before
take-off.

"Travolta is known for his passion for flying; I have a private pilot
licence and Mr Polonksy is a keen aviator," Patel added.

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