Saturday, January 17, 2026
ADVT 
India

Everybody should go to space, says Captain Gopichand after touring space

Darpan News Desk IANS, 21 May, 2024 10:37 AM
  • Everybody should go to space, says Captain Gopichand after touring space

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) Everybody should go to space, said Captain Gopichand Thotakura after becoming the first Indian ever to tour the edge of space on Blue Origin's seventh crewed flight mission on Sunday.

"It was amazing... you have to see it with your eyes," said the Vijayawada-born pilot, after coming out of the space capsule.

The 11-minute flight, which launched at 8.06 p.m. IST from the company's Launch Site One in West Texas, carried the six-person crew to space above the Karman line -- an internationally recognised boundary of space that lies 100 km above the Earth's surface.

"I can't describe how it is to look into space… everybody should go to the space. It was good to see Earth from the other side," he said.

"I think every person on the plant should get to witness the sight," he added.

Thotakura is the second Indian to visit space, after Rakesh Sharma's historic flight on Russia's Soyuz T-11 spacecraft in 1984.

He was part of the seventh human flight missions by the Jeff Bezos-owned company, which also carried 90-year-old Ed Dwight, Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, and Carol Schaller.

MORE India ARTICLES

Punjab CM visits rain-affected areas

Punjab CM visits rain-affected areas
The Chief Minister said the situation was alarming but the government was making efforts to minimise the loss of lives. Mann said teams of the NDRF have been roped in for rescue work but the Indian Army has not been yet pressed in officially for this work.

Punjab CM visits rain-affected areas

Extremely heavy rains due to alignment of three weather systems: Climate scientists

Extremely heavy rains due to alignment of three weather systems: Climate scientists
Incessant rains have triggered flashfloods and landslides across Himachal Pradesh, while Delhi has recorded the highest rains in the last 40 years. Even most of the areas of Punjab have been witnessing flood-like situation in most of districts.

Extremely heavy rains due to alignment of three weather systems: Climate scientists

Deluge in Punjab, but CM busy in serving Delhi bosses: SAD

Deluge in Punjab, but CM busy in serving Delhi bosses: SAD
In a statement here, Majithia said Punjabis were shocked that the Chief Minister was engaged in celebrations and election tours of the neighbouring state of Haryana during the last few days instead of taking review meetings and making advance preparations to meet all eventualities.

Deluge in Punjab, but CM busy in serving Delhi bosses: SAD

3 arrested in Odisha train crash

3 arrested in Odisha train crash
India's federal crime agency has arrested three railway officials in connection with one of the country's deadliest train accidents that killed more than 290 people last month. The three men have been charged with culpable homicide without murder and destruction of evidence.  

3 arrested in Odisha train crash

PM Modi inaugurates various projects worth Rs 7,500 cr in poll-bound Chhattisgarh

PM Modi inaugurates various projects worth Rs 7,500 cr in poll-bound Chhattisgarh
Addressing an event in Raipur, Prime Minister Modi said that the projects will create new employment opportunities for the people of the region and pave way for the development of the state.

PM Modi inaugurates various projects worth Rs 7,500 cr in poll-bound Chhattisgarh

Punjab CM seeks hike in MGNREGA wage rate

Punjab CM seeks hike in MGNREGA wage rate
In a letter to Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh, the Chief Minister sought upward revision in the rates notified for labour under the scheme, claiming that the existing rates are too minuscule. He said lesser wage rate of Rs 303 has been notified for Punjab in comparison to Rs 357 for neighbouring Haryana.

Punjab CM seeks hike in MGNREGA wage rate