Rajahmundry: Kandula Jessie, a Class 10 student from Zilla Parishad Girls High School in Dowleswaram, East Godavari district, has become the only girl from Andhra Pradesh to be selected for Mission Shakti SAT, billed as the world’s first all-girls lunar CubeSat mission.
The fourteen-year-old student is among 20 girls selected from India for the ambitious space programme. Around 12,000 girls from 108 countries had applied, and Jessy secured her place in the final list after clearing multiple stages of the selection process.
Jessie’s father works as a carpenter, and financial difficulties forced her to move from a private school to a government school. Her teachers, however, recognised her potential and continued to encourage her scientific interests. Jessy’s mother, Aruna, described her daughter’s selection and her confident interaction with international scientists as one of the proudest moments for the family.
Jessy’s interest in science was spotted by her physics teacher and Atal Tinkering Lab in-charge, Manimala, who encouraged her to apply for Mission Shakti SAT.
Manimala registered Jessy and eight other students for the programme. Although the online course had already begun, the teacher approached the organisers and secured another opportunity for the students to participate. Jessie has been balancing her Class 10 studies with intensive training in space technology, attending online sessions after regular school hours. She has completed around 50 to 60 per cent of the course, which comprises 550 sessions spread across 21 modules. The programme covers advanced subjects including satellite systems, propulsion, thermodynamics and space technology. The selection process required Jessy to undergo online learning, participate in an hour-long interview in English with scientists, and submit a one-minute video explaining the importance of Mission Shakti SAT.
Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh congratulated Jessie on her selection, calling her journey from a government school to an international space programme inspirational. Lokesh said that she has made Andhra Pradesh proud and wished her the very best.
Jessie said she never expected to be selected for such a programme as a government school student and has dreams of joining ISRO and serving the country. She also wants to support her parents and bring recognition to her teachers and school.
She is scheduled to participate in the next phase of training in New Delhi from August 23. During the programme, she will receive practical training alongside scientists in satellite design, payload development and mission operations. She is also expected to participate in activities connected with National Space Day. The lunar CubeSat being developed by the participating girls is planned for launch from Sriharikota on October 11.