Government school student joins global all girls lunar mission

Fourteen-year-old Kandula Jessie from Dhavaleswaram has earned a coveted spot in Mission ShakthiSAT. She stands as the only participant from her state in this first-of-its-kind global all-girls lunar CubeSat programme. Born to a carpenter, she successfully competed against nearly 12,000 applicants across 108 countries.

Jessie studies in Class 10 at Zilla Parishad Girls High School. Her physical science teacher, Manimala, noticed her bright spark at the local Atal Tinkering Lab and registered her for this programme. Financial constraints had previously forced her parents to move her from private education into this government institution. Today, her mother Aruna watches with immense pride as her daughter interacts confidently with international space experts.

Space technology concepts initially challenged the young student. The 21 modules covered advanced topics like thermodynamics, propulsion, and satellite systems far beyond a standard tenth-grade syllabus. She persisted through daily online classes while preparing for her upcoming board exams. Her steady dedication helped her complete more than half of the rigorous training sessions. She even polished her English speaking skills specifically to pass the intense one-hour international interview phase.

Her next step involves hands-on practical training in New Delhi starting August 23. This gathering coincides with National Space Day celebrations, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend. During this phase, she will collaborate directly with scientists on payload development and mission operations. Planners scheduled the student-built CubeSat launch for October 11 from the Sriharikota spaceport. Jessie hopes this incredible opportunity will bring her closer to a permanent career at ISRO.