Introducing the 4th Indian to travel to space, who couldn't officially become an astronaut
Sirisha Bandla is an Indian-American aeronautical engineer and space passenger who presently works as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations for Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic.
Sirisha Bandla is an Indian-American aeronautical engineer and space passenger who presently works as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations for Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic. She flew on the Virgin Galactic Unity 22 mission, becoming the second Indian-born woman in space and the fourth Indian-origin person to pass the K¨¢rm¨¢n line, after Rakesh Sharma, Kalpana Chawla, and Sunita Williams.
Where was Sirisha Bandla born?
Bandla was born in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district into a Telugu Hindu household | Image: Instagram
Bandla was born in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district into a Telugu Hindu household. She spent her early years alternating between her grandfather's house in Hyderabad and her grandmother's house in Tenali.
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Her family moved to Houston, United States, when she was five years old. Bandla followed her passion for aerospace by receiving a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University.
She eventually earned a master's degree in business administration from George Washington University.
What did she desire to be?
Bandla desired to be a NASA astronaut | Image: Instagram
Bandla desired to be a NASA astronaut, but she was denied on medical grounds owing to her vision. Undeterred, she began her career as an aeronautical engineer for the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, working closely with Matthew Isakowitz. She co-founded the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship to honor him.
How has her career proceeded so far?
Bandla began his tenure as Vice President of Government Affairs at Virgin Galactic in 2015. On July 11, 2021, she took part in the Virgin Galactic Unity 22 test flight, among renowned crew members such as Sir Richard Branson.
In December 2022, Bandla was named one of the BBC 100 Women in appreciation of her efforts and pioneering spirit. Check a video from her Instagram feed.
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