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Andhra teen among 20 Indian girls selected for world's first all-female lunar CubeSat mission

Published on: 28 Jul 2026, 10:04 AM

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Human Resource Development and Information Technology Nara Lokesh met Kandula Jessie, a Class X student from Dhavaleswaram in East Godavari district, who has been selected for Mission ShaktiSat, the world's first all-girls global lunar CubeSat mission.

Ms. Jessie called on the Minister at his residence in Undavalli along with Mission ShaktiSat Director Srimathy Kesan. A student of Zilla Parishad High School, Dhavaleswaram, she is the only student from Andhra Pradesh among the 20 girls selected from across India for the mission.

Ms. Jessie said the Atal Tinkering Lab at her school sparked her interest in science and experimentation. She developed a passion for space science while studying in Class VII and completed 550 sessions across 21 modules as part of the Mission ShaktiSat programme. Expressing happiness at being selected, she said her ambition is to become an aeronautical engineer.

Congratulating Ms. Jessie, Mr. Lokesh said the Space City Cluster is one of 22 development clusters being set up in Andhra Pradesh, and noted that the space sector offers opportunities for young talent. He praised her for bringing pride to the State and assured her of the government's full support. The Minister also unveiled the Mission ShaktiSat poster.

Also present were Mission ShaktiSat Director and Space Kidz India CEO Srimathy Kesan, Sanskara Foundation president Jyothsna Tirunagari, and K. Manimala, a teacher at Ms. Jessie's school.

Source: The Hindu

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