Washington: Gopi Thotakura, an Indian expatriate, etched his name in history as he embarked on a groundbreaking journey, becoming the inaugural Indian space tourist and the second individual from India to venture into space. His voyage was part of the crew for the NS-25 mission, spearheaded by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.

The successful completion of the NS-25 mission marked the seventh human spaceflight and the 25th flight for Blue Origin’s New Shepard program, underscoring significant strides in space exploration.

Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Gopi Thotakura joined a select crew comprising five other members. Notably, the crew included Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, and former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight. Dwight, initially selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as the nation’s first black astronaut candidate, finally realized his dream of space travel through this mission.

With Gopi Thotakura’s inclusion, New Shepard has now ferried a total of 37 individuals into space, marking a milestone in commercial space travel. Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President of New Shepard, expressed gratitude to the astronaut customers, acknowledging their pivotal role in advancing the mission to democratize space exploration.

In a recent interview with ANI, Thotakura shared his profound passion for flying and highlighted the mission’s focus on preserving Earth. He envisioned space tourism as a gateway to making space exploration more accessible and affordable for civilians.

Reflecting on his emotions, Thotakura described his experience as indescribable, emphasizing the unparalleled beauty of witnessing Earth from space with the naked eye. He echoed Blue Origin’s commitment to “For the benefit of Earth,” emphasizing the imperative of safeguarding our planet.

As a symbolic gesture, each astronaut carried a postcard to space on behalf of Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future, dedicated to inspiring future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) for the betterment of Earth.

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, holds the distinction of being the first Indian citizen to journey into space in 1984, preceding Thotakura’s historic feat.