Quick Info
| Profession | Aeronautical Engineer, Astronaut |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 28/03/1988 |
| Age | 38 years |
| Birthplace | Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
Latest News about Sirisha Bandla
06/2025
Sirisha Bandla retired from her role as Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations at Virgin Galactic after a decade of service. She transitioned to focus on board memberships and advisory roles, including her position with Space for Humanity and other aerospace organizations.
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Bio/Wiki
| Sirisha Bandla is an American aeronautical engineer and commercial astronaut who became the second India-born woman to travel to space. | |
| She was born in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India, and raised in Houston, Texas. | |
| Bandla is known for her determined nature and strong will, having pursued advanced studies in aerospace engineering despite failing to meet NASA's vision requirements due to eyesight. |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 170 cm |
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| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
Educational Qualification(s)
| College/University |
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| Qualifications |
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Personal Life
| Sirisha Bandla was raised in a prosperous family in Houston, Texas. | |
| She is fluent in English and Telugu. | |
| She has a pet cat and enjoys exploring travel and adventure sports. |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
|---|---|
| Affairs/Boyfriends | Sean Hu |
Family
| Father | B Muralidhar (works for the US government) |
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| Mother | Anuradha (works for the US government) |
| Siblings | Pratyusha Bandla (Biological Science Technician in the US) |
| Paternal Grandfather | Bandla Ragaiah (Principal Scientist and Professor) |
| Maternal Grandfather | Venkat Narasiah (Chemistry Professor) |
Career
| Current Position | Board Member at Space for Humanity |
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| Previous Positions |
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| Board Memberships |
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| Notable Achievements |
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Favourites
| Food | Pizza |
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| Dessert(s) | Vanilla Ice-cream, Homemade Candy |
| Beverage | Tea |
| Astronaut | Neil Armstrong |
| Sport | Golf |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Sirisha Bandla enjoys meat and seafood dishes. | |
| 2. On July 11, 2021, Sirisha Bandla entered space, making her the third woman of Indian descent to achieve this. | |
| 3. Raised in a prosperous family, Sirisha Bandla grew up in Houston, Texas. | |
| 4. Known for her determined nature from a young age, Sirisha Bandla possesses a strong will. | |
| 5. Bandla Ragaiah, her paternal grandfather, excelled as a principal scientist and professor. | |
| 6. Her maternal grandfather, Venkat Narasiah, previously served as a Chemistry professor. | |
| 7. Showing a passion for flying early on, Sirisha Bandla was unafraid to fly solo. | |
| 8. Despite failing to meet NASA's vision requirements, she pursued advanced studies in aerospace engineering. | |
| 9. Sirisha Bandla has a pet cat and finds joy in exploring travel and adventure sports. | |
| 10. Fluent in English and Telugu, she adeptly communicates in both languages. | |
| 11. On July 11, 2021, Sirisha Bandla entered space aboard Virgin Galactic Unity 22, making her the second India-born woman to go to space and the fourth person of Indian descent to pass the Kármán line. | |
| 12. Despite failing to meet NASA's vision requirements due to eyesight, she pursued advanced studies in aerospace engineering. | |
| 13. During the Unity 22 flight, she reached a height of 89.9 km above Earth's surface and conducted a zero-G experiment from the University of Florida. | |
| 14. Virgin Galactic Unity 22 was the first fully crewed commercial spaceflight test flight. | |
| 15. On July 11, 2021, Sirisha Bandla entered space, making her the second India-born woman to go to space and the fourth person of Indian descent to pass the Kármán line. |