Pilot Gopi Thotakura is poised to become the first Indian to journey to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin's next flight. The Indian-American will join a six-person crew on Blue Origin's NS-25 mission.
The dates for Jeff Bezos' space venture's NS-25 mission have not yet been announced.
"Gopi is a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive," according to Blue Origin.
In addition to being a commercial pilot, Thotakura is also a medical jet pilot. He recently successfully climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, a volcano in Tanzania.
“Gopi pilots bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, as well as gliders and hot air balloons, and has served as an international medical jet pilot,” Blue Origin said.
“A graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Gopi is also the co-founder of Preserve Life, a global centre for holistic wellness and applied health located near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport," it added.
Thotakura, born in Vijayawada, a city in Andhra Pradesh, attended Sarala Birla Academy, a private school in Bengaluru, according to his LinkedIn profile.
At 30 years old, Thotakura currently operates Preserve Life Corp, a global center for holistic wellness and applied health located near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Since July 2021, Blue Origin has conducted six crewed flights, with CEO Jeff Bezos participating in the inaugural flight.
Blue Origin's reusable New Shepard rocket will transport the six-person crew beyond the Karman line, an internationally recognized boundary of space located 62 miles (100 km) above the Earth's surface, in a standard 11-minute flight.
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