Jahnavi Dangeti is a 23-year-old space astronaut candidate from Palakollu, Andhra Pradesh, India. She will be the first to go to space in 2029 under the Titans Space mission.
She has achieved commendable developments in the history of space exploration and advocacy for STEM, attracting international and national attention.
Early Life and Education
Jahnavi is a native of Palakollu in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. She studied at her home town and graduated with a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Lovely Professional University, Punjab. Her parents, Srinivas and Padmasri, now live in Kuwait for professional reasons.
Space Career and Achievements
Jahnavi Dangeti is the first Indian to graduate from NASA's elite International Air and Space Program (IASP), a feat that has been a highlight of her career. She has received rigorous astronaut training in zero gravity, high-altitude flights, spacesuit training, and planetary simulation at some of the world's top international institutions like Poland's Analog Astronaut Training Center, Project PoSSUM, and Space Iceland's geology training program.
She has also actively participated in analog missions, deep-sea diving as a certified advanced adventure scuba diver, and global conferences on planetary science and long-duration space travel sustainability.
Space Mission: Titans Space Orbital Flight
Jahnavi has been chosen as an Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) for the Titans Space mission, which is a US-based initiative to open Titan's Orbital Port Space Station within the next four years.
The 2029 mission will take around five hours, during which time the crew will fly around the planet twice, experiencing two sunrises and two sunsets. The mission will yield close to three hours of continuous zero gravity, providing a revolutionary environment for scientific investigation and human spaceflight development.
The mission will be commanded by seasoned NASA astronaut and retired US Army Colonel William McArthur Jr., who is currently Chief Astronaut at Titans Space.
Contributions and Recognition
Jahnavi is known for her proactive involvement in STEM education and space outreach. She has given lectures for ISRO's educational programs and also spoken to students at top institutions, such as National Institutes of Technology (NITs) in India. As a citizen scientist, Jahnavi helped with the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC), which resulted in an initial discovery of an asteroid based on Pan-STARRS telescope data.
Her achievements include:
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NASA People's Choice Award at the NASA Space Apps Challenge
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ISRO World Space Week Young Achiever Award
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Awarded as the youngest foreign analog astronaut
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Several Indian and international awards for her work in space science and STEM promotion.
Personal Vision
Jahnavi wants to motivate young people in rural areas and show that space exploration is for everyone who is ready to take it seriously. She stresses the need for breaking boundaries and building a future for humanity between planets.
Young Indian space pioneer Jahnavi Dangeti is breaking down barriers all over the world. Her story is one of tenacity, talent, and space devotion—from a small Andhra Pradesh town to being chosen as an astronaut candidate for a groundbreaking space mission. Jahnavi will make history as one of the youngest Indian astronauts to enter space when the Titans Space mission takes place in 2029.
