NEWS – India Joins SERA’s Citizen Astronaut Programme

HIGHLIGHTS

Programme Details

• Designed for countries with few or no astronauts.
• Offers six seats on Blue Origin’s New Shepard reusable suborbital rocket.
• Final candidates voted by the public.
• Indian citizens can register for a fee of around $2.50.

Selection Process

• Candidates will undergo STEM-related challenges.
• Tests streamed in a docuseries format.

Costs and Logistics

• Astronaut launch costs covered by SERA.
• New Shepard mission costs determined by Blue Origin.

Public Voting

• Candidates can campaign through mission profile pages and social media.
• Voting is restricted to candidates from the voter’s nation/region.
• One global seat open to all countries.

Mission Experience

• 11-minute journey past the Kármán line (100 km).
• Experience several minutes of weightlessness.
• Controlled descent to the landing pad.

Inclusivity and Accessibility

• Minimal physical requirements and training for New Shepard’s flight.
• Promotes diverse and inclusive participation.