India Partners with SERA and Blue Origin for Citizen Space Missions

The Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) and Blue Origin have partnered with India for a human spaceflight programme, offering six seats on the New Shepard rocket to Indian citizens. Participants can register for a small fee, meet physical requirements, and garner public votes to be selected for the mission.

The Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) and Blue Origin have officially announced India as a partner nation in their innovative human spaceflight programme.

The collaboration aims to offer citizens from India a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel aboard New Shepard, Blue Origin’s suborbital rocket.

Selected astronauts will experience an 11-minute journey past the Kármán line, enjoying moments of weightlessness before a controlled descent back to Earth.

Joshua Skurla, Co-Founder of SERA, expressed, 'We're thrilled to include India in our human spaceflight programme. Our goal is to make space accessible to everyone, and we're excited to offer this unique opportunity to Indian citizens.'

Indian citizens can enroll for a USD 2.50 registration fee, which covers verification checks. The public will vote on finalists, choosing who gets the opportunity to fly.

'This mission, driven by public choice, will spark national conversations on space and encourage international collaboration,' remarked Sam Hutchison, Co-Founder of SERA.

The initiative ensures broad participation due to minimal physical requirements and training, fostering a diverse and inclusive approach to space travel.