Andhra-born Gopi Thotakura becomes first Indian space tourist

Gopi Thotakura, an entrepreneur and pilot, has become the first Indian to venture into space as a tourist aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission.

Thotakura was selected as one of the six crew members for Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission, that lifted off from West Texas to the edge of space on Sunday.

Also on board was the first US Black astronaut candidate from the 1960s -“I am ecstatic,” Ed Dwight, who at age 90 years and eight months became the oldest person in space, said upon landing.

“Gopi is a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive,” according to Blue Origin. He’s co-founder of Preserve Life Corp, a global center for holistic wellness and applied health located near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

READ: Gopi Thotakura to be first Indian American on Jeff Bezos’ space flight (April 15, 2024)

In addition to flying jets commercially, Thotakura pilots bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, as well as gliders and hot air balloons, and has served as an international medical jet pilot. A lifelong traveler, his most recent adventure took him to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Thotakura is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The NS-25 mission marked the seventh human flight for Blue Origin’s New Shepard program and the 25th flight in its history. To date, the program has flown 31 humans above the Karman line, the proposed conventional boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.

The flight marked resumption of Blue Origin’s centerpiece space tourism business for the first time since its suborbital New Shepard rocket was grounded in 2022. New Shepard is a fully reusable sub-orbital launch vehicle developed by Blue Origin for space tourism.

The flight’s crew comprised Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, and Ed Dwight, a former Air Force Captain who, in 1961, was chosen by President John F. Kennedy as the first Black astronaut candidate in the nation’s history but never got the chance to journey into space.

“We just completed our seventh human spaceflight and the 25th flight for the New Shepard program. Our #NS25 astronaut crew included: Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Ed Dwight, Ken Hess, Carol Schaller, and Gopi Thotakura. Thank you, astronauts!” Blue Origin posted on X.

A big thank you to our astronaut customers for the opportunity to provide this life-changing experience,” said Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President, New Shepard. “Each of you are pioneers helping to advance our mission to build a road to space for the benefit of Earth.”

Key statistics:

The Crew Capsule reached an apogee of 347,464 ft AGL / 351,111 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL).

The booster reached an apogee of 347,105 ft AGL / 350,752 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL).

Official launch time was 9:35:09 AM CDT / 14:35:09 UTC. Capsule landing occurred at 9:45:02 AM CDT / 14:45:02 UTC.

The mission elapsed time was 9 min 53 sec; the max ascent velocity was 2,236 mph / 3,599 km/h.