Who Is Gopichand Thotakura? First Indian civilian to embark on space tourism on Blue Origin

Indian expatriate Gopi Thotakura made history as he became the first Indian space tourist and the second Indian to venture into space as part of the crew for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin's NS-25 mission.

The Blue Origin successfully completed its seventh human spaceflight and the 25th flight for the New Shepard program on Sunday. Andhra-born Gopi Thotakura was a part of the crew among five other crew members.

Besides Gopi Thotakura, the astronaut crew included Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, and former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, who was selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as the nation's first black astronaut candidate but never had the opportunity to fly, the official website of Blue Origin stated.

Moreover, New Shepard has now flown 37 people into space, including today's crew. Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President, of New Shepard, said, "A big thank you to our astronaut customers for the opportunity to provide this life-changing experience."

"Each of you are pioneers helping to advance our mission to build a road to space for the benefit of Earth," Joyce added.

Who is Gopichand Thotakura?

1. Gopichand Thotakura is a pilot “who learned to fly before he could drive”.

2. He co-founded Preserve Life Corp, a global wellness centre near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

3. Gopi has served as an international medical jet pilot and has flown commercial jets, bush planes, aerobatic planes, seaplanes, gliders, and hot air balloons. He has performed over 2000 medical air ambulance missions.

4. He is an avid traveller and recently climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro's summit.

5. Gopi graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

‘I am honoured to represent India.’

“It is an incredible honour to become India's first civilian astronaut as I cross the Kármán line with Blue Origin's NS-25 mission. This journey is not just a personal milestone but a testament to India's growing presence in space exploration," Thotakura said in a statement.

"I hope to inspire future generations to dream big, pursue STEAM education, and reach for the stars. Together, we can achieve the unimaginable. I am deeply grateful to Blue Origin and everyone who supported me in this incredible endeavour," he added.

Who are the other crew members?

Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, is conducting its seventh human flight and the 25th mission in its programme's history. It has already launched 31 people to the Kármán line.

Joining Gopichand Thotakura on this journey are:

• Mason Angel, founder of Industrious Ventures

• Sylvain Chiron, founder of Brasserie Mont Blanc

• Kenneth L. Hess, software engineer and entrepreneur

• Carol Schaller, a retired CPA

• Ed Dwight, a former US Air Force captain whom US president John F. Kennedy selected in 1961 as the “nation’s first Black astronaut candidate but never had the opportunity to fly to space”.