Come July 11, Sirisha Bandla will fly to space aboard 'VSS Unity' of Virgin Galactic.
The 34-year-old will make history as the second Indian-born woman to make it into space, after Kalpana Chawla, who died in the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster in 2003.
In the flight, Sirisha will evaluate the research aboard the mission, which will also be joined by the aerospace company's billionaire founder Richard Branson.
Sirisha was born in Andhra's Guntur district and brought up in Houston. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in 2011 in Purdue University, and did her MBA at George Washington University.
After completing her studies, Sirisha joined Virgin Galactic as an aeronatical engineer in 2015, and currently serves as the company's vice-president of Government Affairs.
In a tweet, Sirisha said that she was "incredible honored" to be part of the crew, and a a company whose mission to make space available to all.
Reuters quoted Sirisha's 85-year-old grandfather Ragaiah saying that Sirisha had always been fascinated by space.
"From the beginning, she was very much fascinated towards the sky, looking at the sky, space, how to enter space and what is there.
"I am very happy and overwhelmed with joy. My second granddaughter, she is going to space," the portal quoted the retired scientist saying.
Source: Hindustan Times, tribuneindia.com
Photo source: tribuneindia.com, thenewsminute.com
Tue Jul 06 2021


Man Sentenced to 10 Years' Jail for Driving Wife to Suicide Over Dowry
A court in Kerala, India, has sentenced a man to 10 years in jail for harassing and abusing his wife over dowry, which ultimately resulted in the woman's suicide.

Malaysian Educator Named Global Winner of 2022 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards
Malaysian educator Khaliffa Afnan from Sabah has been named the global winner of the 2022 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards - beating 7,000 other nominations from 113 countries.

Meet The Dr Who's Passionate About Science & Delivering It To the Masses
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan is passionate about science and the art of communicating it to the masses. Catch Astro Ulagam's interview with the biotechnologist who's putting Malaysia on the world map...

Hindu NGO to Conduct Independent Probe into Vinosiny's Death: Report
The Hindu Agamam Ani Malaysia, a local NGO, is carrying out its own investigations into the death of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) student Vinosiny Sivakumar, a Free Malaysia Today report has said.

Ex-World Bank Lead Counsel Called to Malaysian Bar, Aims to Help Fellow Countrymen
Nagavalli Annamalai, who last served as the lead counsel for the World Bank in Washington D.C, has finally been certified as a lawyer in Malaysia. The 60-year-old now aims to help Malaysians with her career.

Questions Abound Following UUM Student's Untimely Passing
Questions are flooding the social media following the untimely death of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) undergraduate Vinosiny Sivakumar last Saturday.

Meet the Pint-Sized Footballer Who Impressed a Local Coach with His Talent
Little Sarvesh used to play football barefooted against opponents double his size and age. His talent deeply impressed a renowned football club manager and now the pint-sized boy is training on professional grounds.

Graduate Hitches Ride to Convo, Internet Sleuths Looking for 'Saviour'
When USM graduate Kevin Rayappan got stuck in a horrendous traffic jam on the way to his convocation yesterday, a kind-hearted motorcyclist gave him a lift. Now, internet sleuths are trying to trace the identity of the Good Samaritan.

Man Who Threw Lord Ganesha Idol into Dustbin Fined RM2,500
A restaurant assistant has been fined RM2,500 for throwing a decorative statue of Lord Ganesha into a dustbin, in Taman Scientex, in Senai, Johor. Gabriele Jungkak anak Steward will have to serve three months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.

Stay Safe: A Quick Guide to Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
The country is currently experiencing clusters of hand, food, and mouth disease. Here's a quick guide to help you keep your family safe from the illness.

Join "Baba's & U Enggal Insta Chef" Contest & Stand A Chance To Win Up To RM10,000 Grand Prize!
Participate in the "Baba's & U Enggal Insta Chef" monthly contest by uploading your cooking video on social media and be in the running to win RM1,000 monthly cash prize and RM10,000 grand prize!

Five Actresses Who've Shared Their Struggles with Mental Health!
Check out these five Kollywood actresses who were bold enough to break through celebrity boundaries and open up about their mental health!

Rap Porkalam is Back; Bigger, Better, Bolder!
The second season of local Tamil rap competition Rap Porkalam is back - bigger, better, bolder! Catch the premiere on June 4, 9pm on Astro Vinmeen (CH202).

Isaignani Ilayaraja Composes Title Track for Stranger Things Season 4!
Isaignani Ilayaraja scores the theme music of Stranger Things S4, in partnership with Netflix India!
.png?ext=.png)
Tasty Maracurry Mess Recipes Fresh from The Pot!
Maracurry Mess is a show airing on Astro Vaanavil (Ch201), featuring renowned local chef Rajesh Subramaniam whipping up delicious vegetarian dishes.

Man Sentenced to 10 Years' Jail for Driving Wife to Suicide Over Dowry
A court in Kerala, India, has sentenced a man to 10 years in jail for harassing and abusing his wife over dowry, which ultimately resulted in the woman's suicide.

Malaysian Educator Named Global Winner of 2022 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards
Malaysian educator Khaliffa Afnan from Sabah has been named the global winner of the 2022 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards - beating 7,000 other nominations from 113 countries.

Meet The Dr Who's Passionate About Science & Delivering It To the Masses
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan is passionate about science and the art of communicating it to the masses. Catch Astro Ulagam's interview with the biotechnologist who's putting Malaysia on the world map...

Wet Days: The Dos and Don'ts Before, During, and After Floods
The rainy season is upon us yet again, and with that, the risk of floods. Here are some tips to prepare for floods, and the dos and don'ts during and after a flood.

Hindu NGO to Conduct Independent Probe into Vinosiny's Death: Report
The Hindu Agamam Ani Malaysia, a local NGO, is carrying out its own investigations into the death of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) student Vinosiny Sivakumar, a Free Malaysia Today report has said.