Next generation will push the space frontiers, India's first space tourist Gopichand expressed his happiness on returning
India first space tourist: The country's first space tourist Gopichand Thotakura returned to Delhi where he was warmly welcomed. He said that I feel honored to represent the country. I am excited for the next generation of India that will push the boundaries of space. Gopichand was part of the team of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' space company.
India's first space tourist Gopichand Thotakura said that I feel honored to represent the country. I'm looking forward to the future when the kids of India achieve the giant leap into space. He had touched down in Delhi on Monday, where he was welcomed.
Gopichand Thotakura flew to space as a member of the crew for the New Shepherd-25 mission of the space company Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos of Amazon. Born in Vijayawada, this pilot became the first man to enter space, after Rakesh Sharma, in his historic flight on Russia's Soyuz-T-11 spacecraft way back in the year 1984.
"It's an honor to be part of this country's history in trying to send more people to space, be it with Blue Origin or any other organization," Thotakura said. After Rakesh Sharma, three people of Indian origin—Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams, and Raja Chari—reached space as NASA passengers.
Earlier in May this year, Thotakura flew over the Kármán line, just for 11 minutes. It is an internationally recognized boundary of space, 100 km above the earth's surface.
