Sirisha Bandla Makes History With Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Mission
The Virgin Galactic Mission is one of the most awaited events of the year. Virgin Galactic Unity 22 is all set out to serve as a test flight for future passenger space flights that will be organized by Virgin Galactic. I mean honestly, who wouldn’t want a trip to space? There has been a list of people that have already bought tickets for the experience of a lifetime. The founder of Virgin Galactic and billionaire Richard Branson has prepared for this all his life and soon enough that dream will be a reality. Space tourism, here we come.
Recently, the 71-year-old entrepreneur, Richard Branson took the flight to space along with his five teammates – out of which one was an Indian-born woman called Sirisha Bandla. Sirisha Bandla was born in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh, and was one of the crew members that went aboard the rocket ship, Virgin Galactic Unity 22, on Sunday.
The young astronaut signed the logbook for Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Unity 22 as ‘Astronaut 004’ before flying off to space. Growing up in Houston after the age of 5, she became the first Telugu woman and third Indian origin woman to fly into space – after the likes of Sunita Williams and Kalpana Chawla.
On the successful round trip to space, Richard Branson proudly spoke about how 17 years of hard work had finally paid off. It was truly a moment of pride for him and his team that had worked day and night to turn this dream into reality.
Dr. Bandla Ragaiah, Sirisha Bandla’s grandfather, after watching her and Richard Branson along with other crewmates, was extremely elated. When spoken to, he said, “I’m so happy that I got to experience the journey of my granddaughter into space as an astronaut for the first time. All-day I was a bit anxious and wished that she would return safely along with her fellow crew members. Her dream is to enter space. Today, watching her pursuing her dream is a moment of great joy for me and I’m so happy and proud of her.“ He also added, “I congratulate her and the entire team for their safe journey and making it possible for more people to enter space in the near future. I wanted to say that, if we give everything we have, we can definitely achieve our dream, even if it is space.”
From Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan to Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu – all congratulated Sirisha Bandla for her successful flight into space with Richard Branson in the Virgin Galactic Unity 22. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu even added that her achievements will be a motivation for all the girls out there to take up challenging careers.
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Sirisha Bandla, a couple of days before the take of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Unity 22 space flight, tweeted, “I am so incredibly honored to be a part of the amazing crew of #Unity22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all.” Even in the video that was posted by the Virgin Galactic handle on 6th July, Sirisha Bandla was seen speaking about what she felt when she first heard the news. She said, “When I first heard that I was getting this opportunity, it was just… I was speechless. I think that probably captured it very well. This is an incredible opportunity to get people from different backgrounds, different geographies, and different communities into space.”
It is true that great opportunities come rarely and when they do, one should grab them with both hands. Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic opens up so much scope for those who dare to dream. The entire mission emanates the fact that no matter what your dream is you can achieve it – even if the dream is to conquer space.
