**Blue Origin Selects Indian Citizen Gopichand Thotakura as Crew Member for Next Space Mission**
*Bengaluru:* In a significant milestone for Indian space exploration, Gopichand Thotakura has been chosen as one of the crew members for the upcoming New Shepard mission by Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos. Thotakura's selection marks a historic moment as he is set to become the second Indian citizen to journey into space, following the pioneering flight of Rakesh Sharma.
The six-member crew, including Thotakura, will embark on the next New Shepard mission, adding another chapter to India's space odyssey. Thotakura's participation underscores the growing global presence of Indian talent in space exploration and technology.
This announcement comes amidst increasing interest and investment in space exploration, with private companies like Blue Origin playing a significant role in advancing humanity's reach beyond Earth. Thotakura's journey symbolizes India's ongoing contribution to the exploration and understanding of the cosmos, echoing the spirit of scientific curiosity and discovery that drives space exploration worldwide.