Who Is Iniya Pragati? 13YO Chennai Girl Is India's Youngest Analogue Astronaut

Iniya Pragati, a 13-year-old girl from Chennai, has made history by becoming India’s youngest analogue astronaut. She achieved this feat by completing a rigorous training programme in the Canadian Arctic. With this achievement, she has emerged as a beacon of inspiration, not just for India but for the global community of aspiring space explorers. 

India's Youngest Analogue Astronaut

Iniya participated in a high Arctic Martian research mission on Devon Island, a location often referred to as "Mars on Earth." This Canadian island's barren and rocky terrain closely resonates with the geological conditions of the Red Planet, Mars, making it an ideal training ground for the upcoming astronauts. Her mission involved conducting fieldwork, collecting water samples, and searching for microbes, demonstrating her ability to survive and work in a hostile environment. 

Her fascination with space began at the age of five from skywatching. "It inspired me a lot. I started learning about basic things like the solar system and planets. Then I got so interested in Mars and decided I wanted to become an astronaut," she told NDTV. She has gone through intense training sessions, including advanced scuba diving to simulate zero-gravity conditions, which is a method used by NASA astronauts. 

Apart from her fieldwork and training, Iniya is also a published author, according to her school, SRM Public School, Chennai. She has written three books, including "Evidence of Water on Mars," which became a bestseller in the young authors' category. She also serves as a Mars Ambassador, a role that she takes very seriously. She aims to follow a structured path to space, beginning with low Earth orbit, then the Moon and Mars.