Indian-American Arvi Bahal among 6 crew members on Blue Origin’s next spaceflight

Blue Origin has revealed the crew list for its upcoming NS-34 space mission under the New Shepard suborbital program. The six-member team includes Indian-American adventurer Arvinder (Arvi) Singh Bahal, marking a significant milestone for space tourism. This will be the 14th human flight and 34th overall launch by the company.

With this flight, the total number of people flown above the Karman line—the internationally recognized boundary of space—will rise to 76. While the exact launch date is yet to be announced, a live webcast is planned, beginning 30 minutes prior to liftoff.

Arvi Bahal: A Passionate Explorer

Born in Agra, India, Arvi Bahal is now a naturalized US citizen and successful real estate investor. His life reflects a relentless passion for adventure and exploration. Bahal has traveled to every country in the world, visited both the North and South Poles, and even skydived over some of the most iconic locations on the globe, including Mount Everest and the Pyramids of Giza.

In addition to his travels, Bahal holds a private pilot’s license and is trained in helicopter flying, making him one of the more aviation-experienced passengers aboard the New Shepard mission.

Meet the Rest of the NS-34 Crew

  Blue Origin's next spaceflight crewblueorigin.com

Five other diverse and accomplished individuals join Bahal on this mission:

Gokhan Erdem – Turkey

A successful businessman from Turkey, Gokhan Erdem is a board member of Erdem Holding, which operates across multiple sectors, including energy and manufacturing. A passionate space enthusiast and photographer, Erdem dreams of eventually visiting the International Space Station (ISS).

Deborah Martorell – Puerto Rico

An award-winning meteorologist and journalist, Deborah Martorell comes with strong roots in environmental and space reporting. She has participated in NASA’s microgravity flights and is affiliated with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the NOAA.

Her work has earned her multiple Emmy Awards and a reputation as a leading science communicator.

Lionel Pitchford – England/Spain

Originally from England, Lionel Pitchford has spent most of his life in Spain working as a teacher, tour guide, and translator. Inspired by a family tragedy in 1992, he founded a non-profit organization in Nepal focused on aiding underprivileged youth and has also run an orphanage in Kathmandu for over 30 years. Space travel has long been a personal dream for him.

James (J.D.) Russell – USA

Returning to space for the second time after NS-28 in 2024, J.D. Russell is a tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He also established the Victoria Russell Foundation in memory of his daughter, supporting education and families of first responders.

H.E. Justin Sun – Grenada / Global

The sixth member is Justin Sun, a high-profile figure in the cryptocurrency world. Sun has served as Grenada's Ambassador and WTO Representative and is the Prime Minister of Liberland, Founder of TRON blockchain, and Advisor to HTX. In 2021, he won a $28 million auction for a New Shepard seat, which he donated to Club for the Future, benefiting 19 STEM nonprofits.