Education

Richard Branson Flies to Space with Sirisha Bandla

Published

4 years ago

August 24, 2021

There was a time when the idea of someone other than an astronaut flying to space seemed absurd.

Now that dream has become a reality, with Virgin Galactic CEO and famous businessman Richard Branson flying to the edge of space on a rocket plane.

Branson was joined on his flight by a select group of passengers, which includes an Indian-born woman by the name of Sirisha Bandla.

Below is a detailed explanation of their trip, background on both Branson and Bandla, along with more information about the upcoming race for space tourism.

Branson Flies to Space

Richard Branson, who has long been a proponent of space travel and space tourism, took an exclusive flight to the edge of space. His rocket flew from New Mexico in the United States, spent roughly 30 minutes reaching the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere, spent some time up in space, and then flew back down.

The entire journey was over in a little over an hour, which may have seemed anticlimactic to some. However, Branson and his group made history, as they were the first non-astronauts to fly into space. That is a feat no one can take away from them.

When he spoke after the trip, Branson talked about how he had the time of his life. He said it was an experience he will never forget, and he hoped that his trip would show others that space travel can eventually become attainable to the masses.

Jeff Bezos Joins Branson in Space Travel

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos has also flown into space in recent weeks, as he took his own crew a little further beyond the earth’s atmosphere shortly after Branson made his famous journey. Bezos also spoke positively about his experience when he flew off from Texas in the United States.

The two giants of business showed that space travel is now something that can be achieved by people who are not astronauts. While neither of their rockets were in space for more than a few minutes, the trips do show that going up to and beyond the Earth’s atmosphere is no longer a fantasy for the vast majority of people.

When Bezos came down from his trip, he said he had just experienced the “best day ever.” The excitement in his voice was hard to miss, which shows that even the most successful people in the world can be impressed by experiences they previously thought were insurmountable.

India Celebrates Sirisha Bandla

A new era of space tourism has emerged with the trip taken by Branson and his crew to space. With them was an Indian-born woman, Sirisha Bandla, who is gaining a lot of recognition in her home country.

Bandla became the second woman born in India to go to space, after Kalpana Chawla. The latter sadly passed away when the Columbia Space Shuttle crashed on its re-entry to earth back in 2003.

Bandla has a high position within Virgin Galactic, which Branson owns. She works as the vice president of government affairs for the company. Bandla has been with the company since 2015, earning her way through the ranks with her business acumen and knowledge of space travel.

When news of the trip broke, her grandfather gave an interview to Reuters, in which he spoke about her long standing love for space and traveling beyond our planet.

Bandla was part of a five-man crew that took the journey into space with Branson on his rocket. The 33-year-old is an aeronautical engineer who was born in Andhra Pradesh, India. Her family eventually moved to Houston, Texas in the United States, where she went on to attend Purdue University and George Washington University.

Richard Branson and Space

Richard Branson is an English businessman who has spent his entire life hoping to travel to space. He always wanted to be an entrepreneur, with his business sense quickly taking him to the very top of his profession.

Branson began his empire with Virgin Records, a music record label that went on to sign many great artists over the years. He then transitioned into packaged holidays and founded his Virgin Atlantic airline.

The subsequent decades saw Branson try his hand at nearly every industry that caught his interest. Everything from telecom ventures to railways to space-related projects were on the agenda for the English billionaire.

His Virgin Galactic space tourism company was founded in 2004, during a time when most people felt the idea of regular folks traveling to space was laughable. Branson always believed that his journey would end with him going into space, and now he hopes to bring down the costs of such trips for the masses.

The Age of Space Tourism

With Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos and others going into space, traveling beyond Earth is officially open for non-astronauts. Such trips are likely to cost a lot of money in the near future, but prices will go down eventually.

Experts believe that within five or six years, space travel may be a feasible option for middle class and higher class people in affluent countries. Very rich people in Third World countries may be able to make such trips with regularity as well.

If you have been dreaming of the day you would fly to space and see the Earth as a blue and green dot among a larger solar system, your dream could soon become a reality. The privilege of going to space may cost you a lot of money, but so do most great experiences in life.

Related Topics:Richard Branson Sirisha Bandla Space

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Education

ESCP Business School names Marie Taillard as UK dean amid London push

Published

4 weeks ago

January 16, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

LONDON: ESCP Business School has appointed Professor Marie Taillard as dean of its London campus, effective December 19, 2025, as the institution sharpens its expansion and academic ambitions in the UK.

Taillard, who previously served as interim dean, will take on the role for a three-year term. Her appointment comes as ESCP seeks to strengthen its position in London and expand its academic, industry and societal engagement across the UK.

ESCP Business School executive president and dean Leon Laulusa, said Taillard’s expertise in creativity and marketing, combined with her long association with the institution, made her well placed to shape the campus’s next phase. He credited her with launching the MSc in Marketing & Creativity, now one of the school’s flagship programmes.

ESCP London chairman of the board of trustees Lord David Gold, said Taillard would build on the campus’s recent momentum, citing her academic leadership and international outlook.

A L’Oréal professor of creativity marketing and former UK head of faculty, Taillard has been central to ESCP’s push for innovative pedagogy that bridges academic research and professional practice. She was recently shortlisted for the Times Higher Education’s Most Innovative Teacher of the Year award.

Taillard said her focus would be on expanding the programme portfolio, strengthening lifelong learning and deepening links between academia, industry and local communities, aligned with ESCP’s Bold & United strategy.

She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a PhD from the University of London, and has held several senior leadership roles at ESCP since joining its permanent faculty in 2007. The London campus currently serves more than 1,900 students and executive participants each year and is ranked second in the UK by the Financial Times.

Education

Amish Tripathi awarded honorary doctorate by University of York

Published

1 month ago

January 15, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

YORK: Bestselling author and former diplomat Amish Tripathi has added a new title to his name, Doctor of the University.

The University of York in the United Kingdom has conferred on Tripathi an honorary doctorate, honouris causa, recognising his contribution to Indian literature and his role in carrying Indian culture to audiences around the world.

In its citation, the University described Tripathi as the fastest-selling author in Indian publishing history. His 12 books have sold over eight million copies globally, earning him a regular place on Forbes India’s list of influential celebrities.

Beyond the printed page, Tripathi is a familiar voice and face to viewers. A seasoned broadcaster, he has hosted acclaimed documentaries, including the award-winning Legends of the Ramayan. He is also co-founder of Tara Gaming, the studio behind Age of Bhaarat, billed as India’s first AAA video game. Before returning to full-time creative work, he served as minister for Culture and Education at the Indian High Commission in London.

The honorary degree was presented at the University of York’s winter graduation ceremony in the second week of January 2026, in the presence of students, faculty and guests from across the world. In awarding the honour, the University praised Tripathi for deepening global understanding of Indian values, traditions and storytelling.

He was joined in this year’s roll of honour by three other distinguished figures: renowned mathematician professor Simon Donaldson, ecologist professor Sue Hartley OBE, and dame Amanda Blanc DBE, group chief executive officer of Aviva.

The University of York awards its honorary doctorates to individuals whose achievements show exceptional distinction and reflect the institution’s values. For Tripathi, it marks another chapter in a career that continues to blend myth, modernity and meaningful dialogue across cultures.

Education

Niit MTS snaps up Sweetrush in $26m USA push

Published

1 month ago

January 10, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

NEW DELHI / SAN FRANCISCO: Niit learning systems limited’s managed training arm, niit mts, has bought 100 per cent of Sweetrush Inc in a deal worth up to $26 million, tightening its grip on the USA and sharpening its ai-led learning offer.

The acquisition, completed through Niit (USA) inc, includes performance-linked earn-outs over five years. Sweetrush, founded in 2001 by Arturo Schwartzberg and Andrei Hedstrom and headquartered in San Francisco, employs more than 100 people across the United States and Costa Rica, with a wider bench of learning specialists.

Niit MTS is betting that Sweetrush’s award-winning, human-centred learning design, spanning certification-driven content and a fast-growing talent solutions practice, will plug neatly into its global, ai-enabled managed learning platform for Global 1000 clients. The aim: turn project work into sticky, annuity-like contracts and lift wallet share across enterprises, professional associations and not-for-profits.

Niit MTS chief executive officer and executive director Sapnesh Lalla, said the tie-up brings “human-centred learning craft and global operational scale, powered by technology and AI, under one roof”.

Sweetrush chief executive officer Danielle Hart, said joining niit offers a bigger global runway while preserving the firm’s culture of care and innovation.

Niit MTS vice chairman and managing director Vijay K Thadani, called the deal a boost to its outcome-focused portfolio, marrying strategic learning interventions with delivery at scale.

Sweetrush’s founders struck a similar note. Arturo Schwartzberg said the teams and culture would remain intact, now backed by Niit’s heft, while Andrei Hedstrom said the combined ecosystem would “amplify” the firms’ impact on mission-critical learning.