Space Exploration Made Accessible: Indians Can Now Go To Space For Just Rs 200, Full Details Here

New Delhi: The Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) has partnered with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin to offer Indian citizens a chance to become astronauts. This opportunity is part of SERA's human spaceflight program, which aims to democratize space travel and provide opportunities for individuals from countries with limited space presence.

The programme that is being executed in partnership with Blue Origin, is meant for people from countries who have sent "few or no astronauts" to space, SERA said.

"We want to make space accessible for everyone and are happy to offer this unique opportunity to an Indian citizen who wants to experience the wonders of space travel," SERA Co-Founder Joshua Skurla said.

Program and Fee Details

- Indian citizens can register for this historic opportunity by paying a nominal fee of approximately $2.50 (Rs 200), which covers verification checks.
- The selection process involves public voting, three stages of elimination, allowing citizens to choose their nation's space representatives.
- Candidates must meet Blue Origin's physical requirements and can garner votes by sharing their stories through mission profile pages and social media platforms.

The Journey to Space

- The selected astronauts will embark on an 11-minute journey past the Kármán line (100 km), the internationally recognized boundary of space.
- Astronauts will experience several minutes of weightlessness before making a controlled descent back to the landing pad.

Training and Preparation

- The final six crew members will arrive three days before the flight for training at Blue Origin's launch site in West Texas.

Significance and Impact

- This collaboration aims to democratize space exploration and enable citizens from over 150 countries with limited access to space to participate in groundbreaking research and create history.
- The program's minimal physical requirements and training for New Shepard's flight lower the barrier to entry, allowing more diverse and inclusive participation in space.