Sirisha Bandla is an aeronautical engineer and space industry executive who became one of the first Indian-born women to reach space. In 2021, she flew aboard VSS Unity as part of a commercial spaceflight mission conducted by Virgin Galactic. Beyond her flight, Bandla has played a significant role in advancing the commercial space sector through leadership and advocacy. Her career reflects the expanding opportunities created by private spaceflight and the growing participation of the Indian diaspora in the future of space exploration.
