Every evening, after finishing school, 14-year-old Kandula Jessie logs into online space science classes.
For her, a class 10 student, those lessons are about much more than homework; they are the first steps towards her dream of becoming an Isro scientist.
Jessie has been selected as one of 20 students from India for Mission ShakthiSAT, the world’s first global all-girls lunar CubeSat mission.
ShaktiSat is a global space initiative by Space Kidz India, led by Dr Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, as well as an ambassador for both Isro and Nasa.
Chosen from nearly 12,000 applicants across 108 countries, Jessie is the only student from Andhra Pradesh to make it to the Indian contingent.
The achievement is even more remarkable considering her background.
Jessie’s father is a carpenter, and financial constraints forced her parents to shift her from a private school to a government school, a move that eventually opened the door to one of the biggest opportunities of her life.
A TEACHER THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Jessie’s journey began in May 2025, when her Physical Science teacher and Atal Tinkering Lab in-charge, Manimala, noticed her curiosity for science and encouraged her to apply for Mission ShakthiSAT.
Even after learning that the online coursework had already begun, the teacher reached out to the organisers and helped Jessie secure another chance to join the programme.
What followed was months of rigorous learning through nearly 550 online sessions spread across 21 modules, covering topics such as satellite systems, propulsion, thermodynamics and mission operations.
“The subjects were completely new to me,” Jessie told India Today. “Satellite systems, propulsion and thermodynamics were difficult in the beginning. But I attended every class regularly and gradually started understanding them. I realised that if I kept learning every day, nothing was impossible.”
Her selection involved online assessments, interviews with scientists, and a one-minute video explaining the importance of STEM education and the lunar mission.
A STEP CLOSER TO THE MOON
Jessie admits that speaking confidently in English during interviews with international experts was one of her biggest challenges.
“I was nervous because I had never spoken to scientists from different countries. My teachers encouraged me to practise English every day. Their support gave me confidence,” she said.
She further credited both her parents and teachers for helping her reach this milestone.
“My parents worked hard to give me an education despite financial difficulties,” Jessie said. “My teachers believed in me even when I doubted myself. This achievement belongs to all of them.”
The next phase of Mission ShakthiSAT begins on August 23 at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida, where the selected students will work alongside participants from more than 108 countries during the National Space Day celebrations to help design a student-built lunar CubeSat.
The satellite is scheduled to launch from Sriharikota on October 11 this year.
For Jessie, however, this is only the beginning.
“I want to become a scientist at Isro. I hope my journey inspires other government school students to believe that dreams are not limited by where you come from,” she said.
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