VAN HORN, Texas (Diya TV) — Indian American real estate investor Arvi Singh Bahal is set to travel to space aboard Blue Origin’s upcoming NS-34 suborbital mission. The flight marks the 14th human spaceflight under the New Shepard program and the 34th mission overall for the Jeff Bezos-founded company.
Bahal, 80, joins a diverse six-member crew on the privately funded mission that continues Blue Origin’s push to make space tourism more accessible. The exact launch date remains unannounced, but the flight will lift off from the company’s West Texas facility. A live webcast will begin 30 minutes before launch.
Born in Agra, India, Bahal is a naturalized U.S. citizen known for his adventurous spirit and lifelong passion for travel. A former cadet at India’s National Defence Academy, he left his military aspirations behind in the 1970s after a head injury. He then moved to the United States, where he built a successful career in the garment trade, international business, and real estate investing in Florida and Massachusetts.
Over the decades, Bahal has become a globe-trotter with an extreme edge. He has visited nearly every country on Earth, explored both the North and South Poles, and skydived over iconic landmarks like Mount Everest and the Pyramids of Giza. He holds a private pilot’s license and also flies helicopters. With his upcoming Blue Origin flight, Bahal will add space to his list of extreme destinations.
Blue Origin’s NS-34 mission will carry six passengers from different parts of the world. Joining Bahal are Turkish businessman Gökhan Erdem, Puerto Rican meteorologist Deborah Martorell, British humanitarian Lionel Pitchford, American entrepreneur J.D. Russell, and Grenadian diplomat and crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun.
Erdem is a board member of Erdem Holding, which operates in sectors like energy and telecommunications. He is also an avid space enthusiast and photographer, with dreams of visiting the International Space Station.
Martorell is an award-winning journalist and meteorologist from Puerto Rico. Her reporting on climate and space science has earned her eight Emmy Awards and recognition from the American Meteorological Society.
Pitchford, originally from England, has spent the last four decades living in Spain. He has worked as a teacher, translator, and tour guide. After surviving a family plane crash in 1992, he founded a nonprofit in Nepal that helps disadvantaged children.
Russell is the founder of Alpha Funds and Alpha Aerospace. He is also known for the Victoria Russell Foundation, which he established in memory of his daughter to support children’s education and the families of first responders. This will be Russell’s second trip to space.
Sun, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency world, won Blue Origin’s first seat auction in 2021 with a $28 million bid. That amount was donated to Club for the Future, Blue Origin’s nonprofit, and distributed to 19 STEAM education organizations. Sun is the founder of the TRON blockchain network and a former ambassador of Grenada to the World Trade Organization.
The NS-34 mission continues the momentum of Blue Origin’s space tourism efforts. Since its first crewed flight in 2021, the New Shepard program has flown more than 70 people past the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space.
Like past missions, NS-34 will feature a vertical liftoff, a brief period of weightlessness, and a parachute-assisted landing. The rocket’s reusable booster will land autonomously near the launch site.
Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, expressed excitement about the mission. In a post on X, he said, “Looking forward to our sixth New Shepard launch this year and welcoming back our fifth astronaut to fly twice! Proud to have this international crew as we continue opening up space to people from all backgrounds.”
In May 2024, Indian-origin pilot Gopi Thotakura also flew on the NS-25 mission, becoming one of the many who have joined Blue Origin’s growing list of private astronauts.
As anticipation builds for the NS-34 launch, Bahal and his crewmates are set to become part of a new chapter in commercial spaceflight, where adventure meets innovation and global citizens take bold steps beyond Earth.
