Indian To Venture Into Space: Gopichand Thotakura Scheduled for Blue Origin Mission

Gopichand Thotakura, a trained pilot, currently runs Preserve Life Corp. He has been selected as part of the elite crew for Blue Origin’s New Shephard-25 (NS-25) mission, in which he will journey beyond the Earth’s atmosphere along with five other candidates.

An entrepreneur and pilot, Mr. Thotakura joins a distinguished lineup of 31 candidates who have flown beyond the Karman line, the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. Gopichand Thotakura’s passion for flight led him to defy conventional norms and learn to pilot aircraft before mastering the art of driving.

He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science. Blue Origins described him as a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive.

He is proficient in piloting bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, as well as gliders and hot air balloons, and has also served as an international medical jet pilot. A lifelong traveler, his most recent adventure took him to the summit of Mt.

Kilimanjaro. Born in Vijayawada, the 30-year-old currently runs Preserve Life Corp, a global center for holistic wellness and applied health located near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Each member of the NS-25 mission will carry a postcard on behalf of Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future, symbolizing the collective dreams and aspirations of young minds worldwide. From an environmental standpoint, the NS-25 mission heralds a new era of sustainability in space exploration.

Blue Origin stated that nearly 99% of New Shepard’s dry mass is reused, including the booster, capsule, engine, landing gear, and parachutes. The rocket’s engine is fueled by highly efficient liquid oxygen and hydrogen, producing only water vapor with no carbon emissions during flight.

The launch date for the mission is yet to be announced. The mission also includes former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, who was selected by US President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as the country’s first Black astronaut candidate but was never granted the opportunity to fly to space.

Blue Origin has carried out six crewed flights since July 2021, and the company is also developing a heavy rocket for commercial purposes called New Glenn, with the maiden flight planned for next year.