Madhavan salutes carpenter’s daughter, who has been chosen out of 12,000 applicants to participate in a global mission to reach the moon. Who is Kandula Jessie?

Her father is just a humble carpenter from Andhra Pradesh. Kandula Jessie is flying high, aiming for the moon. Taking to Instagram, actor Madhavan saluted her incredible journey. As per a Times of India report, Jessie, a Class 10 student studying at the Zilla Parishad Girls High School in Dowleswaram, has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming one of only 20 students selected from India for Mission ShakthiSAT, the world's first international lunar CubeSat project led entirely by girls. The prestigious initiative drew close to 12,000 applications from participants representing 108 nations. Jessie emerged as the sole representative from Andhra Pradesh to secure a place in the final Indian contingent.

Beginning August 23, she will travel to New Delhi for specialised training, where she will collaborate with scientists and technical experts on various aspects of the mission, including satellite engineering, payload integration and mission planning. The student-designed lunar CubeSat is scheduled for launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on October 11.

Jessie's journey began when her physical science teacher and Atal Tinkering Lab coordinator, Manimala, recognised her passion for science and innovation and enrolled her in the programme last year. Inspired by the opportunity, Jessie motivated eight classmates to participate. Although they initially missed the online coursework after discovering it had already started, Manimala contacted the organisers and successfully arranged another chance, allowing Jessie to continue her learning.


Managing her Class 10 academics alongside the demanding programme, Jessie attended virtual sessions every evening after school. She completed nearly half of the curriculum, which consists of approximately 550 lessons spread across 21 modules. The coursework introduced advanced topics such as satellite architecture, propulsion systems, thermodynamics and space science, many of which were well beyond the regular school syllabus.

The final selection involved completing online coursework, participating in a one-hour interview with scientists and programme officials, and recording a short presentation highlighting the objectives of Mission ShakthiSAT and the importance of STEM education. Since the interaction was conducted entirely in English with international experts, Jessie dedicated extra time to strengthening her communication skills with support from her teachers and educational resources.

According to Manimala, Jessie has consistently demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm in the school's Atal Tinkering Lab by actively participating in scientific projects and competitions. Her mother, Aruna, shared that financial hardships forced the family to transfer Jessie from a private institution to a government school, as her father works as a carpenter. Watching their daughter confidently engage with scientists from around the world became one of the family's most memorable and proudest achievements.

Jessie told TOI that her ultimate goal is to work in ISRO.