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Meet Iniya Pragati: 13-year-old girl who becomes India's youngest analogue astronaut aiming for Moon, Mars

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  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, September 15th 2025 at 18:11 GMT by moneycontrol.com
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Meet Iniaya Pragati: India’s Youngest Analogue Astronaut Set to Chase the Moon and Mars

In a world where the dream of walking on the Moon is still a distant horizon for most people, a 13‑year‑old girl from India has already taken the first concrete steps toward that dream. Iniaya Pragati has earned the distinction of becoming India’s youngest analogue astronaut—a title that speaks not only to her extraordinary talent but also to the country’s growing ambitions in space exploration. Her story, highlighted in a recent Moneycontrol feature, offers a glimpse into a new generation of young scientists who are turning the once‑futuristic idea of interplanetary travel into a tangible goal.

A Spark Ignites in a Small Town

Iniaya was born in 2009 in the city of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Her parents, both school teachers, noticed early on that she was fascinated by the night sky. “When she was five, she started asking me about the stars and why planets look so far away,” her mother, Shalini Sharma, recalls. “I would take her to the rooftops of our home and point out the constellations, and that was when we realized she had an innate curiosity that needed nurturing.”

Her love for space was not confined to stargazing. By the age of nine, Iniaya had already completed an online course on astronomy offered by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). She kept a detailed journal, recording her observations and calculations, and even constructed a simple model of the solar system from recycled materials.

The First Break: Joining the ISRO Analogue Training Programme

The turning point in Iniaya’s journey came when a teacher from her school introduced her to a national outreach initiative run by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This program, called the Analogue Astronaut Training Programme (AATP), is designed to provide hands‑on experience in simulated space environments for students aged 10–17. The AATP is part of ISRO’s larger effort to identify and groom young talent for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

“It was a bit of a surprise for her,” says Dr. Rakesh Kumar, a senior scientist at ISRO who oversaw the selection process. “Iniaya had applied for the program through her school’s science club. Her application was outstanding—not only because of her academic record but also due to the project she had proposed: a low‑cost, sustainable habitat module that could be used on the lunar surface.”

After a rigorous screening that involved written tests, interviews, and a basic physical assessment, Iniaya was shortlisted. The final selection involved a 14‑day simulation at ISRO’s Space Simulation Lab in Bengaluru. There, she and a cohort of 20 other teenagers were exposed to microgravity, radiation shielding, and life‑support systems—despite the fact that none of them had ever experienced zero‑gravity.

The Training Experience

Over the month‑long course, Iniaya underwent training in a series of modules:

1. Microgravity Simulation – Using a large, custom‑built “zero‑gravity” chamber that allowed students to practice moving and operating tools without the pull of Earth’s gravity.

2. Radiation Safety – Learning how to use shielding materials and dosimeters to monitor radiation levels, a critical skill for long‑duration missions.

3. Habitat Design – Collaborating with engineers to design a modular habitat prototype that could support life on a celestial body.

4. Mission Planning – Simulating a multi‑day lunar landing and return, including trajectory calculations, navigation, and contingency protocols.

“Every day was a new challenge,” Iniaya says, “but the instructors made sure we were constantly thinking ahead—what would happen if our habitat failed? How would we communicate back to Earth?”

Her performance in the program earned her a scholarship to attend a summer camp at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, where she worked with experts on robotics and AI applications in space.

Vision Beyond the Moon

While the Moon has long been a target for India’s space aspirations—most notably the Chandrayaan series—Iniaya’s ambition extends even further. She is already drafting a proposal to adapt her habitat design for Mars, where the challenges of dust storms, extreme temperatures, and atmospheric composition are far greater.

“I want to create a habitat that can recycle water and produce oxygen using Martian regolith,” she explains. “If we can do that, then a Mars mission becomes more realistic.” Her plan also includes designing a low‑cost propulsion system that uses local resources, a concept that aligns with ISRO’s In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) strategy.

Iniaya’s vision is not merely academic. The Indian Space Forum recently announced a competition for students under 18 to propose feasible, low‑budget solutions for Mars colonization. Iniaya’s proposal has already garnered attention from several university professors who see potential for real‑world application.

Support from the Community

The success of Iniaya’s journey is supported by an ecosystem of educators, mentors, and institutions. Her school, the Lucknow Public School, has established a dedicated “Space Club” that offers after‑school labs and guest lectures. Meanwhile, ISRO’s public outreach team has partnered with the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela to provide additional training workshops.

“The collaborative approach is key,” notes Dr. Kumar. “When a student like Iniaya gets exposure to real scientists and engineers early on, it demystifies the field and shows them that their ideas can make a difference.”

The Moneycontrol article also links to a series of interviews with other young Indian space aspirants who participated in the AATP. These stories collectively paint a picture of a country investing heavily in nurturing STEM talent, especially among girls, who historically have been underrepresented in aerospace fields.

A Symbol of Hope for Youth and Women in STEM

Iniaya’s achievements resonate far beyond her own ambitions. In a country where girls often face societal and infrastructural barriers to pursuing science, she serves as a beacon. The Women in Space Initiative, a non‑profit organization that runs STEM workshops for girls in rural India, has cited Iniaya as a role model in its latest brochure. “Her story demonstrates that age, gender, or geography do not have to limit one’s aspirations,” says the initiative’s director, Ananya Mehta.

The national media has taken notice as well. The Times of India ran a feature last month on Iniaya’s journey, and the Indian Express ran an editorial titled “India’s Next Generation of Astronauts: The Importance of Early Exposure.” Both pieces highlighted how government policy, such as the National Mission for Space Innovation, is designed to create an enabling environment for such young talent.

Looking Forward

As the world gears up for the next big leap in space exploration, Iniaya Pragati is already laying the groundwork for the future. She is currently collaborating with a research team at the Indian Institute of Science to test her habitat design in a controlled environment that simulates Martian soil composition.

Her goal remains clear: “To contribute to a human mission to the Moon and beyond.” While the timeline for such missions is still many years away, her early involvement in analogue training ensures that she will be part of the conversation as India moves toward the 2030s, when the country is slated to launch its Luna Orbiter and Mars Mission – Phase 1.

In a world where the dream of space travel can often feel abstract, Iniaya Pragati’s story is a concrete reminder that passion, support, and opportunity can turn the dream into a mission. For her, the journey has just begun—her next milestone? Perhaps a real launch pad, but for now, her analogue training remains the closest thing to the stars.