In the classroom of a government school in Dowleswaram, a physical science teacher noticed something in a Class 10 student that would eventually lead her to New Delhi and, possibly, one day to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).This student is Kandula Jessie. The 14-year-old daughter of a carpenter is now one of the 20 Indian participants selected for Mission ShakthiSAT, the world’s first global all-girls Moon CubeSat mission. She is also the only student from Andhra Pradesh to make the final list from India, chosen from nearly 12,000 entries from 108 countries.His story is not one of early advantages. It’s the focus of a single teacher, a family’s financial struggles, and a student who kept showing up for online classes after school, even when the concepts felt way beyond her.
The teacher who saw it first
Jessie studies at Zilla Parishad Girls High School (ZPGHS), Dowleswaram, and it was here, at the school’s Atal Tinkering Lab, that her science teacher Manimala first enrolled her in the program last year.Manimala had noticed Jessie’s constant interest in science and innovation, and her active participation in lab activities and competitions. Jessie didn’t stop at applying for herself. He also encouraged eight other students from his school to enroll. But when they tried to join, they found that the online course had already started. Manimala contacted the program coordinators directly and secured a second chance, which allowed Jessie to continue.
What did it really take to get selected?
Selection for the ShakthiSAT mission was not a matter of filling out a form and waiting. It involved online learning modules spread over approximately 550 sessions and 21 modules, covering satellite systems, propulsion, thermodynamics and space technology. Applicants also had to clear a one-hour interview with scientists and coordinators and submit a one-minute video explaining the mission and importance of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.Jessie managed to complete 50 to 60 percent of her coursework while preparing for her Class 10 exams by attending online classes daily after school hours.“Initially I found many concepts difficult because they were much more advanced than what we study in school, but I continued to attend classes every day,” Jessie told TOI.The interview round added another layer of difficulty. It was conducted entirely in English with international experts, and Jessie worked to improve her communication skills with the help of her teachers and educational videos before that.“I was nervous talking to international scientists. I never expected a government school student like me to be selected,” he said.
A family shaped by economic limitations
Jessie’s father works as a carpenter. According to her mother, Aruna, the family had to transfer Jessie from a private school to a public school due to financial constraints.It was in that government school, in a laboratory meant to introduce students to tinkering and innovation, that a teacher discovered her potential. What could have been read as a setback turned out to place Jessie exactly where it could be noticed and fostered her interest in science.“My husband is a carpenter and we have faced many struggles. Seeing my daughter confidently interact with international scientists was one of the proudest moments of our lives,” said Aruna.
What comes next
Starting August 23, Jessie will travel to New Delhi for the next phase of the program, which includes hands-on training and National Space Day celebrations. There, he will work with scientists on satellite design, payload development and mission operations for the student-built Lunar CubeSat, a small satellite designed to operate around the Moon, which is slated to launch from Sriharikota on October 11.Jessie is also hoping to attend an event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be present.“After being selected for this programme, I feel that with hard work I can achieve my dream of joining ISRO. I also want to support my parents and make my teachers and school proud,” she said.
About Mission ShakthiSAT
The ShakthiSAT mission is led by Dr. Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, an organization that works to make space science accessible to young people. According to its official website, the mission aims to encourage girls to pursue careers in STEM through hands-on experience in space science, satellite technology and international collaboration.For Jessie, she has already done more than that. He has turned a government school student’s daily after-school effort into a real opportunity for a career in space science.