Vineeta Rao
Wellington, April 10, 2024
A young woman from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, has travelled to space and back, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.
Sirisha Bandla is flying high. So high that she has actually been to space and back, literally!
She is the second woman of Indian origin to venture into space and the fourth Indian-origin person to cross the Kármán line, following the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams after her flight on the Virgin Galactic Unity 22 Mission.
Her journey from Guntur, a town in Andhra Pradesh, to the vast expanses of space, is an inspiring one. As if being a trailblazing astronaut were not enough, she is also an Aeronautical Engineer by training and profession.
Sirisha’s early years were spent in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh, where she lived with her grandparents. Her family later moved to Houston, Texas, when she was five years old, and she grew up near NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where she was heavily inspired by the astronauts and engineers who worked there.
She pursued her passion for aerospace by enrolling at Purdue University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering. Her academic journey didn’t stop there; she went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Business Administration from George Washington University.
Sirisha’s aspirations to join NASA crashed as she was disqualified on medical grounds due to her eyesight. However, this setback did not deter her, and she joined the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, collaborating closely with Matthew Isakowitz.
Isakowitz died tragically at the young age of 29. In his memory, Sirisha co-founded the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship.
Career and Achievements
In 2015, Sirisha joined Virgin Galactic, a company at the forefront of commercial space travel. She rose through the ranks to become the Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations. Her role involved liaising with government agencies and overseeing research projects that could benefit from spaceflight.
Sirisha’s most notable achievement came on July 11, 2021, when she flew on Virgin Galactic’s Unity 22 Mission. This historic flight was the first fully crewed commercial spaceflight, and Sirisha was one of the six crew members, including Virgin Galactic’s founder, Sir Richard Branson. The Mission aimed to test the cabin experience and conduct scientific experiments in microgravity.
During the flight, which reached an altitude of 89.9 kms (about 56 miles) above Earth, Sirisha worked with the University of Florida to study how plants react to changes in gravity.
Her experiment will lead to a better understanding of how to grow food in space, essential for long-duration space Missions.
The Unity 22 Mission
The Unity 22 Mission was a resounding success, and Sirisha’s achievement was celebrated worldwide. She was awarded Commercial Astronaut Wings by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Sirisha’s journey to space has had a profound impact on aspiring astronauts and engineers, especially those from underrepresented communities.
In recognition of her contributions to space exploration and her role as a trailblazer for women in STEM, Sirisha was honoured as one of the BBC 100 Women in December 2022. Her achievements continue to inspire young girls and women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Sirisha continues to be a prominent figure in the aerospace industry. She is committed to advancing commercial spaceflight and making space more accessible to a broader range of people. Her work involves not only the technical aspects of space travel but also the regulatory and policy frameworks that support it.
Sirisha is also passionate about mentoring the next generation of aerospace engineers and astronauts. She frequently speaks at conferences, universities, and schools, sharing her experiences and encouraging young people to pursue careers in STEM fields. Her story is a powerful reminder that with determination and hard work, anyone can reach for the stars.
Vineeta Rao is an Indian Newslink Reporter based in Auckland.
