Houston, TX - From a small town in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, to the edge of space, Sirisha Bandla's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. When young Sirisha moved to Houston, Texas, her eyes were set on the stars. She dreamt of becoming an astronaut, but her aspirations hit a roadblock when she failed NASA’s vision requirements. But that was just the beginning of her incredible story.
Determined not to let her dreams be grounded, Sirisha pursued aeronautical engineering at Purdue University and later earned an MBA from George Washington University.
Her academic journey equipped her with the skills and knowledge to forge a path in the aerospace industry. Despite the setback with NASA, Sirisha didn’t give up. Instead, she found a new avenue to the stars through commercial space travel.
In July 2021, Sirisha Bandla made history by becoming the third Indian-origin woman to fly into space. She was part of Virgin Galactic’s first fully-crewed spaceflight, VSS Unity, alongside Richard Branson.
The mission aimed to test the future of commercial space travel, and Sirisha played a critical role in conducting research experiments during the flight. Her experience of weightlessness and viewing Earth from the edge of space was a dream realized, proving that setbacks can be stepping stones to greater achievements.
Recently, Sirisha has been using her platform to highlight the underrepresentation of women, especially women of color, in space exploration.
She aims to inspire and mentor the next generation of space enthusiasts, encouraging them to pursue their dreams relentlessly.
“I hope to be that mentor for a lot of women,” she says, emphasizing the importance of having role models to guide aspiring young minds.
Her alma mater, Purdue University, recognized her stellar achievements by inducting her into the prestigious Cradle of Astronauts, placing her among legends in space exploration. This honor not only celebrates her past achievements but also her ongoing contributions to the field.
Sirisha Bandla’s journey from a small town in India to the cosmos is a testament to resilience and determination. Despite the initial setback with NASA, she found a way to achieve her dreams and continues to inspire millions around the world.
Her story reminds us that sometimes, the roadblocks we face can lead us to even greater paths.
