Who is Gopi Thotakura? The First Indian to Travel to Space
New Delhi, April 12, 2024: Pilot Gopi Thotakura is set to make history as the first Indian descendant to journey into space. He has been selected as one of the six crew members for Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission. According to Blue Origin, Gopi is a skilled pilot who took to the skies before even getting behind the wheel of a car. Born in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, Gopi received his early education at a private school in Bangalore.
In addition to his role as a commercial pilot, Gopi is also experienced as a medical jet pilot. He has a passion for adventurous pursuits, recently scaling the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Blue Origin has highlighted Gopi’s background as a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and his co-founding role in the institution.
Since July 2021, Blue Origin has successfully launched six crewed flights, with CEO Jeff Bezos himself participating in the inaugural flight. The upcoming NS-25 mission will see the New Shepard rocket carrying Gopi and his fellow crew members beyond the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, situated 100 kilometers above Earth’s surface.
