Get to know Gopi Thotakura, India’s pioneering space tourist

A 30-year-old aviator from Vijayawada, Gopi Thotakura, made history as the first Indian space tourist on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin’s seventh human flight. Thotakura, an entrepreneur and pilot, joined five other crew members on the NS-25 mission, lifting off from Launch Site One in West Texas on Sunday morning. This mission was part of the ‘New Shepard programme’ of Blue Origin, marking the 25th flight in its history.

Thotakura, described by Blue Origin as a pilot who learned to fly before he could drive, co-founded Preserve Life Corp, a global centre for holistic wellness and applied health. He has experience flying jets commercially, as well as bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, and has served as an international medical jet pilot. The crew also included Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, and former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight.

During the flight, the crew experienced weightlessness and breathtaking views of Earth through the cabin windows. Each astronaut carried a postcard to space on behalf of Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future, which aims to inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEAM fields. From an environmental standpoint, New Shepard’s engine is fuelled by highly efficient liquid oxygen and hydrogen, producing only water vapour with no carbon emissions.

This mission comes after a brief pause in Blue Origin’s suborbital tourism programme following a liftoff malfunction in September 2022. The successful NS-25 mission marks a significant milestone for Indian space exploration and the future of space tourism.