Key takeaways
- Jahnavi Dangeti, a 23-year-old engineer, selected as an Astronaut Candidate for Titans Space in 2025.
- Veteran NASA astronaut William McArthur Jr. will lead the first orbital mission in 2029.
- Dangeti's training will include spacecraft systems, mission simulations, and survival training starting in 2026.
- The 2029 mission aims to conduct scientific research during multiple Earth orbits and sustained weightlessness.
- Dangeti expresses gratitude to mentors and supporters who contributed to her astronaut selection.
Jahnavi Dangeti, a 23-year-old engineer from Andhra Pradesh, has been chosen as an Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) for the Titans Space Astronaut Class of 2025. Dangeti’s selection marks the beginning of an intensive multi-year training program to prepare for space missions set to advance science and human exploration.
Dangeti announced this on her LinkedIn in a post saying, “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 will begin astronaut training in 2026, which will include learning spacecraft systems, mission simulations, zero-gravity flights, emergency procedures, psychological assessments, survival training, medical evaluations, and spaceflight operations. The mission will include multiple Earth orbits, sustained weightlessness, and a transformative environment for research and learning.
The first orbital mission, scheduled for 2029, will be led by veteran NASA astronaut William McArthur Jr., currently the chief astronaut at Titans Space. The mission will include multiple Earth orbits, sustained weightlessness, and opportunities for scientific research.
“Thank you to Titans Space Industries Inc. and Neal S. Lachman for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Dangeti added. She expressed her gratitude to her mentors, friends, and supporters who have helped her reach this milestone.
Dangeti’s selection follows her completion of NASA’s International Air and Space Program (IASP) at the Kennedy Space Centre, where she became the first Indian to achieve this feat. She was also appointed as the mission director for ‘Team Kennedy’, leading a group of 16 individuals from various countries. Her team successfully launched and landed a miniature rocket into the sky.
In addition to her training at NASA, Dangeti participated in the Analog Astronaut Training Centre (AATC) in Krakow, Poland, becoming the youngest to complete the programme in 2022.
The Titans Space Astronaut Class of 2025 aims to contribute to the next era of space exploration by preparing astronauts for human spaceflight and scientific research in microgravity.
Note: The article has been updated to clarify that Jahnavi Dangeti has been selected as an astronaut candidate with Titans Space Industries.
