Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Blue Origin, led by Jeff Bezos, announces Indian national Gopichand Thotakura as part of a six-member crew for the next New Shepard mission, marking a significant milestone for Indian space exploration.
Thotakura's journey will make him the second Indian citizen in space after wing commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984, highlighting India's growing presence in the global space community.
Born in Vijayawada, Gopichand Thotakura is a wellness entrepreneur and pilot, currently co-founder of Preserve Life, a wellness center in the US. He aims to inspire Indian children by making space exploration more accessible.
Thotakura's family, also in the wellness business, learned about his space mission after the official announcement by Blue Origin. While nervous, they are excited about his historic journey.
Joining Thotakura on the NS-25 mission are venture capitalist Mason Angel, French entrepreneur Sylvain Chiron, US tech entrepreneur Kenneth L Hess, retired accountant Carol Schaller, and former US Air Force captain Ed Dwight.
NS-25 will be Blue Origin's first crewed launch since the NS-23 failure in September 2022. The mission aims to reach the Kármán line, offering passengers an 11-minute flight experience.
Thotakura's sponsored launch reflects the rise of space tourism, with Blue Origin competing with Virgin Galactic to attract passengers. The industry is projected to surpass $3 billion by 2030.
Blue Origin's pricing strategy varies, with tickets ranging from free for celebrities like William Shatner to $28 million. Thotakura's mission underscores the evolving landscape of space exploration and tourism.