Washington: Arvinder “Arvi” Singh Bahal, an 80-year-old Indian-origin real estate investor and globetrotter, made history on Saturday by flying to space aboard Blue Origin’s suborbital mission, NS-24. With this, Bahal became the oldest person of Indian origin to venture into space.
Bahal, who was born in Agra and is now a US citizen, was one of six passengers aboard the New Shepard rocket launched by Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin from West Texas. The fully autonomous flight crossed the Kármán line—an internationally recognized boundary of space—allowing the crew to experience weightlessness for a few minutes before returning safely to Earth.
The NS-24 mission, Blue Origin’s 14th crewed launch and 34th overall, lasted around 11 minutes. Bahal, a licensed pilot and helicopter flyer, described the flight as “a dream come true” and an extension of his lifelong pursuit of adventure.
A passionate traveller and adventurer, Bahal has previously skydived over Mount Everest and the Egyptian pyramids, visited all 196 countries recognized by the United Nations, and journeyed to both the North and South Poles. In a pre-flight statement, he said he had always dreamed of going to space and was “humbled” by the opportunity.
“I believe that exploration keeps the human spirit alive. This journey was not just about me, but about showing that age is no barrier to dreaming big,” Bahal told reporters.
Blue Origin has been expanding its commercial spaceflight program, enabling private individuals from diverse backgrounds to fly to space. The NS-24 crew included adventurers and investors from around the world, reflecting the company’s push to democratize access to space.
The mission marks another milestone for the growing space tourism industry, with Bahal following in the footsteps of Gopi Thotakura, who in May 2024 became the first Indian civilian to fly on a Blue Origin spaceflight.
