BENGALURU: Captain Gopichand Thotakura, the second Indian who will travel to space is set to make history on May 19 with the Blue Origin's NS-25 mission, as the company announces dates. Along with six other crew members, the seventh human flight of the New Shepard, Gopi will go beyond the Karman Line–the boundary that separates Earth’s atmosphere and outer space- and return to Earth. This mission not only signifies India's re-entry into the space race but will also make history with its crew of distinguished astronauts.
Gopi’s flight will be the first foray into space exploration in four decades, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's iconic journey aboard Soyuz T-11 in 1984. The mission will be telecasted live from 7 pm onwards on Blue Orgin’s website. One of the expedition's highlights will be the astronauts' sending postcards to space on behalf of the Club for the Future, a programme designed to encourage and support the next generation of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) professionals.
The astronaut from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, proud to represent India on this journey said, “As the first civilian Indian astronaut embarking on this historic journey with Blue Origin's NS-25 mission, I am honored to represent India on this voyage. India is making a mark in space exploration worldwide. This voyage is a symbol of the spirit of human endeavour and ingenuity on a global scale. I hope this exploration inspires future generations of STEAM professionals as we push the boundaries of space exploration together." Gopi will also be wearing an Indian flag badge as he takes flight on Sunday.
Founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos in 2000, this will be Blue Origin’s 25th flight. It has already launched 31 people to the Kármán line.