“I am fine and keeping myself fit. If there is a possibility, I will do it again”
— Photo: S. James
Rakesh Sharma
MADURAI: Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to undertake space voyage 23 years ago, is ready for another journey. “I am fine and keeping myself fit. If there is a possibility, I will do it again,” the cosmonaut who served the Indian Air Force and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, said here on Thursday.
Mr. Sharma said he was in touch with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with regard to the manned space programmes and when an opportunity came he would travel to space once more.
“Neil Armstrong did it for the second time at the age of 77. I am younger than him and also have both fitness and experience in undertaking space mission.”
He, however, said there were many more persons younger than him who could take flights into space and hence “if approached, I will say yes.”
Mr. Sharma was here to take part in the inaugural function of the Velammal College of Engineering and Technology established by the Velammal Educational Trust.
On the comments in certain quarters on whether a moon mission and space programmes were necessary now for the country, he shot back, “My answer will be can we afford not to do this.”
“Manned and unmanned satellite programmes will make a lot of difference to space exploration. We are going to be a part of an international movement of exploiting the resources on moon and elsewhere,” the cosmonaut said.
Right now, he is engaged in projects that facilitate a changeover that brings IT-enabled services into manufacturing area in space-related missions.
