India Welcomes First Civilian Space Tourist Gopichand Thotakura

Gopichand Thotakura, India's first civilian space tourist, received a hero's welcome in Delhi after his mission with Blue Origin's New Shephard-25. Thotakura expressed pride and joy, highlighting the significance of space tourism for future generations and the mission's alignment with protecting Mother Earth.

India's first civilian space tourist, Gopichand Thotakura, received a warm welcome in Delhi on Monday, following his journey as part of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' space venture, Blue Origin's New Shephard-25 (NS-25) mission. Thotakura described his return as a moment of immense pride for India and expressed his joy at representing the country.

Thotakura created history by becoming the second Indian citizen to travel to space, after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's historic journey in 1984. In an earlier interview with ANI, Thotakura shared his dreams and passion for flying, emphasizing the potential of space tourism to make space travel affordable and accessible for civilians.

Thotakura highlighted Blue Origin's mission to protect Earth, stating that the company's efforts aim to explore new frontiers for the benefit of our planet. He also mentioned Blue Origin's collaboration with NASA to develop a private international space station, marking a significant step towards the future of space tourism. Thotakura urged future generations to pursue their dreams, particularly in STEAM fields, for the betterment of Earth.

(With inputs from agencies.)