Balangir’s Avionics Engineer Pritisha Banerjee Powers Skyroot’s Vikram‑1 Orbital Rocket
Balangir’s Pritisha Banerjee helped power Skyroot’s Vikram‑1 orbital rocket launch as its avionics software reliability engineer.
Pritisha Banerjee, a 26‑year‑old avionics software reliability engineer from Titilagarh in Balangir district, Odisha, contributed to the Vikram‑1 orbital rocket launch by Skyroot Aerospace on July 18, 2026. The launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre marked India’s first private company to send an orbital rocket. As part of Skyroot’s team, Banerjee validates the Mission Computer Software that acts as the rocket’s brain. Her work helped make the Vikram‑1 flight a historic milestone for India’s private space sector.
How did Pritisha Banerjee’s path to Skyroot begin?
Banerjee, a native of Titilagarh town, earned her BTech from Government College of Engineering, Kalahandi (GCEK) in Bhawanipatna in 2021 with a CGPA of 8.87. During her eighth semester she interned at Jabhekar Automation in Pune, a firm with around 15–20 employees. The CEO asked the interns where they saw themselves in five years and what their dream was. She replied that she wanted to build a company that works on rockets and develops technology to collect space debris.
The CEO smiled and told her to write down 60 skills she thought she would need to achieve that dream. She spent nearly two hours and listed about 70 skills, realising that embedded systems would be one of the most important. That exercise gave her clarity about her career path.
What role does she play on the Vikram-1 mission?
After the internship, Banerjee completed a Master Certification Course in Process and Automation Control at CTTC, Bhubaneswar, giving her a strong technical foundation. She then joined DRDO, Dehradun, as an embedded software engineer, working on mission‑critical systems for nearly two years.
Armed with that background, she joined Skyroot Aerospace as an avionics software reliability engineer. On her first day she saw a rocket placed horizontally in the office and said, “Before joining Skyroot, I had never seen a real rocket. On my very first day, I entered the office and saw a rocket placed horizontally. It was the first time in my life that I stood beside a real rocket, and I still remember getting goosebumps.”
At Skyroot she works on the Mission Computer Executive Software, which ensures reliable software operation throughout a mission. She has worked alongside experienced engineers and interacted with retired ISRO scientists, including former ISRO chairman Dr S Somanath, who she said gave her confidence and motivated her to contribute to India’s growing private space sector.
What does she say about the launch and her advice to others?
On July 18, 2026, the day Vikram‑1 launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, drawing congratulations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee said it was a day she will never forget. She quoted, “It was a grand day for our team. That feeling cannot be explained.”
Priya S, an associate professor at GCEK, noted that Banerjee’s achievement has brought pride to the institution, saying, “She was dedicated and disciplined in her academics.” She added, “The small‑town‑student myth has been erased by Pritisha through her determination and perseverance. She stands as an inspiration for students from small towns.”
Banerjee’s advice to young people, especially those from small towns, is simple: “Dedication, vision and discipline are the ladder to success.” Her mother teaches at a school for children with disabilities and her younger sister is pursuing a BTech in Electrical Engineering at BPUT, Rourkela.
Who is Pritisha Banerjee and where is she from?
She is a 26‑year‑old avionics software reliability engineer from Titilagarh town in Balangir district, Odisha.
What role did she play in the Vikram‑1 launch?
She validated the Mission Computer Software as an avionics software reliability engineer at Skyroot Aerospace.
When and where was the Vikram‑1 rocket launched?
Vikram‑1 launched on July 18, 2026 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
What inspired Pritisha Banerjee to pursue a career in rocket technology?
During an internship at Jabhekar Automation, a CEO asked her where she saw herself in five years; she answered her dream was to build a rocket company, and he advised her to list 60 skills needed, which led her to focus on embedded systems.
What educational background and work experience does she have before joining Skyroot?
She holds a BTech from GCEK, Bhawanipatna (2021, CGPA 8.87), completed a Master Certification Course in Process and Automation Control at CTTC, Bhubaneswar, and worked as an embedded software engineer at DRDO, Dehradun for nearly two years.
What did she say about seeing a rocket for the first time at Skyroot?
“Before joining Skyroot, I had never seen a real rocket. On my very first day, I entered the office and saw a rocket placed horizontally. It was the first time in my life that I stood beside a real rocket, and I still remember getting goosebumps.”
How did she describe the Vikram‑1 launch day?
She said it was a day she will never forget and quoted, “It was a grand day for our team. That feeling cannot be explained.”
What recognition did her college give her?
Priya S, associate professor at GCEK, said Banerjee was dedicated and disciplined in her academics and that her achievement erased the small‑town‑student myth, making her an inspiration for students from small towns.
What advice does she give to young people from small towns?
She advises that dedication, vision and discipline are the ladder to success.
Who are her family members mentioned in the article?
Her mother teaches at a school for children with disabilities and her younger sister is pursuing a BTech in Electrical Engineering at BPUT, Rourkela.
Suresh Sahu
Senior District Correspondent, Balangir
Suresh Sahu has reported on Balangir district for the Mirror since 2020, focusing on drought-relief policy, health infrastructure, and district politics.
View all articles by Suresh →
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