At 79, most people are slowing down—but not Arvinder “Arvi” Singh Bahal. The Agra-born real estate investor and world traveler is set to launch into space today aboard Blue Origin’s NS-34 mission, part of Jeff Bezos’ private spaceflight program.
Scheduled to take off from West Texas, the flight will make Bahal one of the few Indian-origin civilians to cross the Kármán line, the internationally recognized edge of space.
From Agra to the Edge of Space
Born on October 13, 1945, just a short walk from the Taj Mahal, Bahal’s life has been defined by bold choices and global adventures. Now based in Beverly, Massachusetts, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1979 and is the president of Bahal Properties, a real estate company he’s led since 1975.
But real estate is only part of the story. Bahal has built businesses in fashion, sportswear, and hospitality—and his true passion has always been travel and exploration.
A Life of Firsts and Far-Flung Adventures
- Visited all 196 countries on Earth, including remote spots like North Korea, Greenland, and Patagonia
- Stood at both poles—the North and the South
- Skydived over Mount Everest and the Pyramids of Giza
- Holds a pilot’s license and is also trained to fly helicopters
- Fluent in six languages
- Accomplished travel photographer, with work featured globally
- Author of the book Tireless Traveler, with more writing projects underway
Bahal’s journey has included a stint in India’s National Defense Academy, cut short by a polo injury that led to partial hearing loss. He later spent nearly four years working on a Scottish-owned tea plantation in Darjeeling, before starting a garment manufacturing business near Delhi.
Part of a Diverse Space Crew
On today’s NS-34 flight, Bahal joins an international crew including:
- Tech entrepreneur Justin Sun
- Turkish businessman Gokhan Erdem
- Puerto Rican meteorologist Deborah Martorell
- British teacher Lionel Pitchford
- U.S. venture capitalist JD Russell
The mission marks Blue Origin’s continued push into space tourism, with over 70 people flown to space since the program began.
A Lifelong Adventurer, Now a Spacefarer
For Bahal, this flight is the next chapter in a lifetime of exploration. At nearly 80 years old, he’s proving that curiosity doesn’t have an age limit—and that adventure is always just one launch away.
Image Source: Google
Image Credit: Respective Owner
