Indian-American woman Sirisha Bandla poses with the team.

Gulf Today report

Indian-Americans are making an impressive mark in the US of A. They are occupying key positions in the American government, apart from helming major firms such as Google and Sun Microsystems.

The most high profile among them is Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Tamilian descent.

Indian-Americans are also very much into space missions.

Scientist Swati Mohan leads the control operations of Nasa's Mars 2020 mission, among other things.

Now, another Indian-American is making waves not just in the world of space travel but also in her home state of Andhra Pradesh.

Sirisha Bandla, 33, born in Guntur, will be taking part in British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic's test flight. The flight, to take place on July 11, will travel to the edge of space.

Bandla, who joined Virgin Galactic in 2015, has since childhood, been interested in the stars and all things linked with space.

She is very elated by the honour.

Her grandfather, Dr Ragaiah, a retired scientist who goes by one name, is over the moon on her achievement.

He says she was always very much fascinated by the firmament. She would always look at the sky, wonder how to enter space and what was in there, he adds.