Kandula Jessie, a 14-year-old Class 10 student, has secured a spot among the 20 Indian students chosen for Mission ShakthiSAT, the world’s first all-girls lunar CubeSat project, selected from nearly 12,000 applicants across 108 countries.Jessie studies at Zilla Parishad Girls High School in Dowleswaram, East Godavari, and is the only participant from her state to make the cut.
Kandula Jessie (Photo: @APDeputyCMO/ X)
Jessie’s path here wasn’t a straight line
According to Brut India, her father works as a carpenter, and her mother is a homemaker; she originally studied at a private school, but financial constraints forced her family to move her to a government school. And even though these circumstances could easily have narrowed her options, they ended up placing her exactly where a teacher caught a glimpse of her potential, and it changed her life and gave her a new direction.
So, what exactly is Mission ShakthiSAT
Mission ShakthiSAT is a global initiative led by Dr Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, “to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through hands-on experience in space science, satellite technology, and international collaboration,” according to its official website. Space Kidz India, the organisation behind it, works mainly to make space science accessible to young minds, using this mission as one way of putting that mission into practice.
How students actually get selected for it
Getting selected for this course isn’t just about filling out a form. The selection process involved a lengthy process of completing online coursework, sitting through a one-hour interview with scientists and programme coordinators, and submitting a one-minute video explaining the Mission ShakthiSAT initiative and why STEM education matters. The curriculum also includes hundreds of sessions and modules covering satellite systems, space technology, thermodynamics, and propulsion.
How did Jessie get there?
Jessie’s journey began after her physical science teacher and Atal Tinkering Lab coordinator, Manimala, recognised her interest in science and encouraged her to apply. She didn’t stop there either, going on to motivate eight other students from her school to register for the programme as well, making a single suggestion into a small wave of applications from her own classroom.
What all is there for selected students
Starting August 23, Jessie will undergo training in New Delhi, working along with scientists on satellite design, payload development, and mission operations for a student-built lunar CubeSat, a small satellite designed to operate around the Moon. Balancing this with her board exam preparation, she will attend online sessions daily throughout the process, all while keeping her Class 10 studies on track.