Mithusha Kulatunga on a mission to become an astronaut
A Year 10 student at King’s Baptist Grammar School, Mithusha Kulatunga, hopes to become an astronaut and has already mapped out his path.
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ASPIRING astronaut Mithusha Kulatunga is on a mission to explore the solar system and boldy go where no human has ever been before.
The Year 10 student at King’s Baptist Grammar School takes every opportunity to learn about the space industry and position himself on the perfect career trajectory.
“When you look up into the stars, you start thinking ‘there’s so much more out there’,” he said. “I want to go see all of that. We’re so small, compared to everything else in the universe.”
The 15-year-old is already taking the first steps on his journey into space.
He is so focused on his “ultimate goal” of becoming an astronaut that he joined the Australian Air Force Cadets at the Royal Australian Air Force’s Edinburgh base to work towards his private pilot licence – a requirement of becoming an astronaut.
“One of the requirements to become an astronaut is to be able to fly an aircraft and have a certain amount of hours in command,” he said.
“I have also gained new leadership qualities and have been able to improve on existing ones as a result of being part of the Australian Air Force Cadets.”
He’s also planning to work in the RAAF as an aerospace engineer and then a fighter/test pilot – another step on the path. “This means I will be sent to the US Air Force for one year of training and come back and work as a fighter/test pilot in the RAAF,” Mithusha said.
Noting most astronauts have served in the defence forces, he’s also planning to work in the RAAF as an aerospace engineer and then as a fighter/test pilot.
“The US Air Force is where astronauts are born. I have also realised that many astronauts have a Master’s degree or PhD, so I plan to also do those degrees while working. After this, from my knowledge so far, I think (then) I would have fulfilled all the requirements and be ready to become trained as an astronaut.”
Mithusha can trace his interest in space back to a book about the solar system that he started reading in Year 2, eight years ago.
He realised humans had only been to the moon, so there was still much to discover.
“I’m most interested in the engineering and the science side, inventing, creating and then exploring,” he said.
By submitting detailed plans for two inventions, he was recently selected as one of 25 delegates nationwide to attend the National Questacon Invention Convention in April.
Another step on Mithusha’s journey is the Mithusha is looking forward to the free Future Proof: Space Jobs Forum at the Scott Theatre, University of Adelaide, on Thursday February 6.
The forum – featuring Adelaide astronaut Andy Thomas – is designed to give high-school students, parents and educators an inside look at the space industry, which is set for takeoff in SA.
“It will definitely help me take the correct pathways with my uni studies and then take the correct career pathways,” Mithusha said.
It will feature re encouraged to attend and hear fromAdelaide’s own astronaut, Andy Thomas, as well as experts in the fields of off-earth resources, space mining and nanosatellites.
“I am planning to attend these kind of space forums and discussions as much as possible to stay informed,” he said.