Who is Jahnavi Dangeti, India’s 23-year-old space trailblazer?

Following the recent success of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, another Indian astronaut is preparing to take flight. 23-year-old Jahnavi Dangeti is set to go to space in 2029 aboard a Titans Space Industries mission as an astronaut candidate.

Dangeti has been breaking barriers since she was 19, taking part in other major space-related programmes. This includes the Analog Astronaut programme at the Analog Astronaut Training Centre in Poland, and the Aexa Aerospace International Air and Space Programme, in partnership with NASA.

Here’s what you need to know about her latest expedition.

The 2029 Titans Space orbital flight will be conducted with a spaceplane and last five hours, with a particular three-hour period of sustained zero gravity. The flight will conduct a total of two orbits around the earth, allowing for the viewing of two sunrises and two sunsets. The mission will be spearheaded by William S. MacArthur Jr., a veteran American NASA astronaut and retired US Army Colonel.

Training for the mission is expected to begin in 2026 and continue over the next three years ahead of the 2029 launch. Dangeti will prepare for the mission through the Titans Space Astronaut Candidate (or ASCAN) programme, which covers everything from flight stimulations, medical assessments, and spaceflight operations, among others.

Alongside this expedition, Titans Space Industries is currently juggling various other operations. The organisation, a privately-held space exploration company based in the US, is particularly focusing on opportunities in the low-earth orbit space, such as with their upcoming LEO Titans OrbitalPort Space Station (TOPSS).

For Dangeti, an interest in the skies began young. “As a child, I often looked up at the moon believing it was following me. That sense of wonder never left - and today, I’m honoured to share that it’s becoming a part of my reality,” she reflected in a statement on LinkedIn.

These dreams started back in Dangeti’s hometown of Palakollu in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. She later went on to pursue a Bachelors of Technology from Lovely Professional University in Punjab, specialising in BTech, Electronics, and Communications Engineering.

Currently, she resides in Undavalli, where Nara Lokesh, Minister for Human Resources Development and Education in Andhra Pradesh, met with Dangeti to congratulate her on the colossal achievement.

“Jahnavi has achieved the distinction of being the first Telugu woman from India to set foot in space. I praised her for standing as a source of pride for the state as a Telugu daughter,” Lokesh said in a statement on X, as reported by the ANI.

Lokesh also called for continued government support for Dangeti, while also requesting her to serve as a partner and partake in STEM outreach activities in the state education department, on behalf of the government.

The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, S. Abdul Nazeer, also acknowledged her landmark accomplishment saying, “Ms. Jahnavi has proved that no dream is too distant when you have a strong determination and she will be an inspiration to many youth. Andhra Pradesh and the entire nation is proud of her outstanding achievement,” according to a statement on the Governor’s Instagram account.

Dangeti also took to social media to share the news and details of her future flight, while reflecting on her journey so far.

“I’m proud to represent my roots and the incredible young dreamers I’ve met over the years --- this mission is for all of us who look up and imagine the impossible,” she stated in a statement on Instagram.