In a historic return to crewed flights, Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, successfully launched its New Shepard rocket on Sunday’s NS-25 mission. The flight, carrying six crew members, including a veteran Indian pilot, took off from the company’s facilities in West Texas.
The crew capsule, carrying Captain Gopichand Thotakura from Andhra Pradesh, venture capitalist Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, and retired US Air Force captain Ed Dwight, reached an altitude of 105.7 kilometres, crossing the boundary of Earth’s atmosphere.
After the rocket separated, the capsule continued its ascent, allowing the crew to experience a few minutes of weightlessness before returning to Earth under parachutes. This marked Blue Origin’s first crewed flight in nearly two years, following a failed uncrewed mission in September 2022.
Captain Thotakura’s participation in the mission is particularly noteworthy. His lifelong passion for aviation and contributions to India’s medical aviation sector have made him a respected figure in the industry. The successful launch of the NS-25 mission is a testament to Blue Origin’s resilience and commitment to advancing space exploration.
