Gopi Thotakura Makes History as First Indian Space Tourist: Blue Origin’s NS-25 Mission Details

Gopi Thotakura, a native of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, has made history by becoming the first Indian space tourist and the second Indian to venture into space. Thotakura was part of the elite crew for Blue Origin’s New Shepard-25 (NS-25) mission, which took off from the company’s West Texas launch site in the US on Sunday evening.

The NS-25 mission marked the seventh human spaceflight for Blue Origin and the 25th flight for the New Shepard program. Thotakura was one of six crew members on board the spacecraft, which also included individuals like Ed Dwight, Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L Hess, and Carol Schaller. Notably, 90-year-old Ed Dwight, America’s black astronaut candidate, was the oldest person in the crew to travel to space after a long hiatus.

Thotakura, a trained pilot with a B.Sc in aeronautical science degree, has a background in medical air evacuation services in India. He is also a co-founder of Preserve Life Corp, a global center for holistic wellness and applied health. Blue Origin praised Thotakura as a lifelong pilot and aviator who has experience flying jets commercially, as well as bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes.

Prior to Thotakura, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma was the only Indian citizen to travel to space as a tourist in 1984. Other Indian-origin astronauts like Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams, Raja Chari, and Sirisha Bandla have also traveled to space, but they are all US citizens. Thotakura’s achievement adds to the growing list of Indians making their mark in the field of space exploration.