Vijayawada: The family of Gopichand Thotakura (Gopi Thotakura) celebrated his triumphant journey into space with great fanfare in city on Monday. Thotakura Bhumiah, the grandfather of Gopichand, expressed his elation by hosting a grand celebration with other family members at their residence in Poranki on the outskirts of city.
Gopi etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian to embark on a space voyage as a tourist on Sunday.He was an integral part of the distinguished crew for Blue Origin’s New Shepard- 25 (NS-25) mission.
Thotakura Gopichand’s academic journey commenced at Timpany School in Visakhapatnam, followed by Bal Bharati Air Force School, Sanskriti School in New Delhi, and Vignan Jyoti in Hyderabad. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Sarla Birla College, Bengaluru. Subsequently, he specialised in aeronautical sciences at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, USA. Additionally, he acquired his commercial pilot licence from Embry School. He further enhanced his expertise by obtaining an MBA in aviation from Emirates/ Coventry University, UK.
Thotakura Bhumiah said his grandson Gopi maintains a strong connection with Vijayawada city and frequently visits the town. “Gopi’s father, T Vijay Kumar, was engaged in real estate business. Gopi and his brother Nagashyam have established themselves in Atlanta, USA. Gopi has an unwavering desire to witness a thriving and robust India, and he possesses an adventurous spirit. He has brought immense pride to the entire nation by becoming the first Indian civilian space tourist,” Bhumiah remarked.
“Gopi mastered the art of piloting before he learned to operate a car. He has piloted business jets and medical flights both in India and abroad, accumulating thousands of flying hours under his belt. His passion for flying and adventure has led him to scale Mount Kilimanjaro and now venture into space as the first Indian space tourist. He is also a certified seaplane and hot air balloon pilot, as well as a qualified diving instructor,” Gopi’s paternal grandmother Swarnalatha said.
He is co-founder of Preserve Life Corporation, USA, a holistic wellness resort under development in the United States. His aspiration is to witness numerous Indian children grow up to become astronauts, Swarnalatha added.
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