Kandula Jessie: Class 10 Student Chosen for All-Girls Lunar Mission
Kandula Jessie, a Class 10 student from a government school in Andhra Pradesh, has been selected for Mission ShakhtiSAT, the world’s first international all-girls lunar CubeSat mission. She is one of 20 Indian students chosen from nearly 12,000 registrations submitted by girls from 108 countries.
Jessie, a student at Zilla Parishad Girls High School in Dowleswaram, East Godavari, is the only participant from her state selected for the programme, according to reports.
Beginning August 23, Jessie will undergo training in New Delhi, where she will work alongside scientists on satellite design, payload development, and mission operations for a student-built lunar CubeSat. CubeSats are miniature satellites used for space research, and this particular mission aims to place one in orbit around the Moon.
Mission ShakhtiSAT is designed to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The initiative brings together students from diverse backgrounds, with participants from over 100 countries competing for a place.
Jessie's selection is a significant achievement given the competitive process. She will join other chosen students from across India in learning the fundamentals of space engineering and mission management. The training programme includes hands-on work with actual satellite components and simulations.
The mission is expected to inspire more young women to engage with space science. Jessie, who has consistently performed well in her studies, said in an earlier interaction that she hopes to contribute to India's space efforts. Her school teachers have expressed pride in her accomplishment, noting that she has motivated other students in her community to take an interest in science.
As the only representative from Andhra Pradesh, Jessie's journey highlights the potential of students from rural areas to excel on a global stage. The mission organisers have stated that the CubeSat is scheduled for launch in the coming year, subject to technical readiness.
