Who is Gopi Thotakura? Know about FIRST Indian Space Tourist

Achievement

Indian expatriate has scripted history becoming the first Indian space tourist and the second Indian to venture into space as part of the crew for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos Blue Origins NS-25 mission.

Early Life and Education

Born in Vijayawada district of Andhra Pradesh, Gopi attained his early education from a school in Bangalore. He is also a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelors of Science in Aeronautical Science. Gopi Thotakura is currently based in America.

Profession

Gopi Thotakura is an entrepreneur and pilot by profession. He co-founded Preserve Life Corp, a global hub for holistic wellness and applied health. In addition to commercial jets, he flies bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, as well as gliders and hot air balloons, and has worked as an international medical jet pilot.

Loves adventure

He is an adventurous individual who enjoys travelling. One of his trip adventures included a visit to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Infinite love for space

Gopi always aspired to go to space. When he first came to the U.S. in 2010, he always looked for opportunities that would let him travel to space and Blue Origin opened it up for him.

About Blue Origin's New Shepard-25 (NS-25) mission

Blue Origins New Shepard is named after Alan Shepard, a Mercury astronaut from the United States. New Shepard is a reusable rocket vehicle designed to carry people and scientific payloads beyond the Karman line. This is unique as it is designed for operational reusability and to decrease the cost of access to space, reduce waste, and help preserve our environment.

Passionate about flying

In an interview, Gopi Thotakura stated that he had a passion and an ambition to fly. According to Blue Origin, Gopi is a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive.