Dangeti Jahnavi Becomes First Indian Astronaut Candidate for Titans Space Orbital Mission.
Science and Technology
On June 23, 2025, 23‑year‑old Dangeti Jahnavi from Palakollu, Andhra Pradesh, was selected as an Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) for the Titans Space orbital mission to the Orbital Port Space Station, scheduled for launch in 2029. Her selection marks a historic milestone for India in commercial space exploration.
- Dangeti Jahnavi is the first ever Indian to be chosen for a private-sector orbital flight by Titans Space Industries, a US-based space venture. She was selected as part of the inaugural ASCAN 2025 cohort.
- A graduate in Electronics & Communication Engineering from Lovely Professional University, Punjab, Jahnavi also holds the distinction of being the first Indian to complete NASA’s International Air & Space Program (IASP).
- The Titans Space mission is a 5‑hour orbital flight scheduled for 2029. It involves two complete Earth orbits, three hours of sustained zero gravity, and will travel to the Orbital Port Space Station.
Main Point :- (i) Starting in 2026, Jahnavi will undergo a rigorous three-year ASCAN training programme—covering flight simulations, spacecraft systems, survival training, medical evaluations, and astronomy research—under the guidance of veteran NASA astronaut Colonel William McArthur Jr.
(ii) Jahnavi is a passionate advocate for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in India—she has led asteroid discovery projects, engaged in planetary geology training in Iceland, and delivered lectures at ISRO and NIT campuses nationwide.
(iii) Her selection has been praised by political leaders such as Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, who hailed her as an inspiration for young Indians and a shining example of India’s rising role in global space exploration.
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