August 3, 2025 | New Delhi (desk) : An Agra-born real estate investor, Arvinder “Arvi” Singh Bahal, made headlines on Sunday after flying to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin’s latest space tourism mission, NS-34. This 11-minute joyride was part of Jeff Bezos’s private space company’s ongoing efforts to make space accessible to civilians.

The flight took off from Launch Site One in West Texas at 6:00 PM IST and was live-streamed by Blue Origin. The webcast began 30 minutes before liftoff and attracted global attention, especially from India, where Bahal was born and raised before becoming a U.S. citizen.

Bahal, now settled in the United States, has always been passionate about adventure. With a private pilot license and helicopter training under his belt, he has made it a personal goal to visit every country in the world. His journey into space is the latest—and perhaps boldest—step in his quest for exploration.

Just 17 seconds after ignition, the New Shepard rocket cleared the launch tower. The capsule separated smoothly soon after, and the crew experienced weightlessness as they crossed the Kármán line—considered the official edge of space.

At 7 minutes and 25 seconds, the New Shepard booster landed safely back on Earth. Three and a half minutes later, the capsule also returned, marking a successful conclusion to the suborbital trip. The entire mission lasted only 11 minutes but was packed with excitement and history.

The NS-34 crew included a diverse group of six passengers: Turkish businessman Gökhan Erdem, Puerto Rican journalist Deborah Martorell, British philanthropist Lionel Pitchford, American entrepreneur JD Russell, Grenada’s ambassador Justin Sun, and of course, India’s own Arvinder Bahal.

With this mission, Blue Origin has now flown 75 individuals into space—five of them more than once. Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President of New Shepard, commented on the mission’s global spirit: “Seeing participants from multiple countries come together is always inspiring. Viewing Earth from space changes people. It unites them.”

A spokesperson from Blue Origin praised Bahal’s journey, saying, “Arvi’s trip from Agra to outer space shows how ambition and curiosity can break all boundaries.”

For many watching from India, Bahal’s flight wasn’t just a personal achievement—it was a proud moment. It also highlighted the growing role of Indian-origin individuals in the field of private space travel.

As commercial space flights become more common, stories like Bahal’s show that space is no longer just for astronauts or billionaires—it’s becoming a dream within reach for ordinary people with extraordinary ambition.