Six people, including Indian-origin pilot Gopichand Thotakura, did a spacewalk on Sunday. Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket and capsule (NS-25) of online shopping company Amazon founder Jeff Bezos took off from West Texas, USA on Sunday morning carrying all six astronauts. With this, Indian-origin pilot Gopichand Thotakura became the first Indian tourist to go to space under Blue Origin's NS-25 mission.
History was made. Blue Origin shared a video on its official Instagram account, showing a small Indian tricolor in the Thotakura area. The six-member team included America's first black astronaut, 90-year-old Ed Dwight. He flew into space after almost 60 years.
Who is Gopichand?
Gopichand Thotakura, born in Andhra Pradesh, has created history by traveling to space. He became the second Indian to go to space after Indian Army Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984. With this he has also become the first Indian space tourist. Gopi is a pilot and aviator. He has worked as an international medical jet pilot. Born in Andhra Pradesh, Gopichand graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.