23rd May 2024 (15 Topics)
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Gopi Thotakura, the First Indian Space Tourist
Context
Gopi Thotakura, an entrepreneur and pilot, became the first Indian space tourist on Blue Origin's NS-25 mission, led by Jeff Bezos. He's the first Indian citizen to experience space tourism, but officially the second Indian astronaut after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
What is Space Travel?
- Space travel starts around 100 km above Earth's surface, crossing the Karman line, which marks the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space.
- Anything flying below this line is considered an aircraft, while anything crossing it is a
Private Space Tourism:
- Private space tourism became active in 2021 with companies like Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX offering missions.
- These missions opened space tourism to anyone willing to pay.
- Different missions require different levels of training. Sub-orbital flights, like Thotakura's, require minimal training usually included in the ticket price.
- Accessibility: Space tourism is currently only affordable for the super-rich.
- Some more affordable options, like high-altitude balloon rides, are emerging. These take passengers up to 100,000 feet for about $50,000. While they don't offer weightlessness, passengers can see the curvature of the Earth.
Fact Box: Kármán line
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