New Delhi: Pilot Gopichand Thotakura will join five others on Blue Origin's New Shephard-25 (NS-25) mission to become the first Indian to venture into space as a tourist, NDTV reported.
Thotakura, who is also an entrepreneur, joins the elite club of 31 candidates who have flown beyond the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space , the Karman line.
He began to pilot aircraft before he learned how to drive vehicles, underlining his deep passion for flight.
Pursuing his passion, Thotakura graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
"Gopi is a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive. Gopi 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,’ Blue Origins reportedly wrote about him.
The 30-year-old, born in Vijayawada, runs Preserve Life Corp, which is a centre for holistic wellness and applied health near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
On behalf of Blue Origin's foundation, Club for the Future, the mission’s members will each carry a postcard symbolizing dreams and aspiration of young minds worldwide.
Highlighting the mission’s sustainability factor in space exploration, Blue Origins stated that ‘Nearly 99% of New Shepard's dry mass is reused, including the booster, capsule, engine, landing gear, and parachutes. New Shepard's engine is fueled by highly efficient liquid oxygen and hydrogen. During flight, the only byproduct is water vapor with no carbon emissions.’
Since July 2021, Blue Origins has carried out six crewed fights with both paying customers and guests. The project’s CEO Jeff Bezos himself took part in the first.
It is reported that the company is planning maiden flight of its heavy rocket for commercial purposes called New Glenn next year.