From Palakollu To The Stars: India's Jahnavi Dangeti Set For Historic 2029 Space Mission

Last Updated:June 24, 2025, 16:20 IST

The young aerospace enthusiast from Palakollu has been selected as an astronaut candidate for the 2029 Titans Space Mission

Jahnavi Dangeti, 23, is the first Indian to graduate from NASA’s IASP, an intensive five-day programme held at the Kennedy Space Center. (Instagram/mystic_galaxia)

From watching the stars in a small Andhra Pradesh town to training for a historic spaceflight, 23-year-old Jahnavi Dangeti is all set to make history. The young aerospace enthusiast from Palakollu has been selected as an astronaut candidate for the 2029 Titans Space Mission, becoming the first Indian to complete NASA’s prestigious International Air and Space Program (IASP) and possibly the first Indian woman to fly on an international private space mission.

A Rising Star in Aerospace

Dangeti will begin her astronaut training in 2026 under the guidance of retired NASA astronaut William McArthur Jr. Her mission: a flight to the Titan Orbital Space Station, scheduled for launch in 2029. She will undergo rigorous preparations, including simulations, spacecraft systems training, zero-gravity conditioning, and survival drills.

Her selection for the elite programme marks a major milestone—not just for her but for India’s growing representation in global space exploration.

Dangeti is the first Indian to graduate from NASA’s IASP, an intensive five-day programme held at the Kennedy Space Center, which includes hands-on training in space science, rocket design, and leadership. As per India Today, she led her team as mission director during the programme, guiding the launch of a mini-rocket as part of a simulation.

She is also the youngest analog astronaut trained at the Analog Astronaut Training Center in Krakow, Poland, where she participated in simulated space missions designed to replicate lunar and Martian environments.

From Small-Town Roots to International Heights

Speaking to NDTV, Jahnavi credited her roots and early fascination with the night sky for fuelling her dreams. “I grew up listening to my grandmother’s stories under the stars. That curiosity never left me," she said.

Her academic journey took her through a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication at Lovely Professional University, and she has also earned a private pilot licence. She has participated in asteroid-hunting campaigns via the International Astronomical Search Collaboration and actively promotes STEM education for young students in India.

Eyes on 2029

Dangeti’s role in the 2029 Titans Space Mission could place her among the few Indian civilians to travel to space. The mission, organised by international private space agencies, aims to conduct research aboard the orbital station while advancing human spaceflight collaborations.

As she prepares to embark on this extraordinary journey, she told The Times of India: “It’s not just my dream anymore. It’s the dream of everyone who comes from small towns and thinks space is out of reach. I want to prove otherwise."

Apoorva Misra

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M...Read More

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M...

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Andhra Pradesh, India, India

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