Washington - An Indian-American scientist is aiming to achieve a remarkable feat by becoming the first woman to execute a skydive from the stratosphere, situated at an elevation of 42.5 km above the Earth's surface. This daring endeavor is poised to not only break new ground but also set four distinct records.

Swati Varshney has emerged as one of the three candidates chosen by the Hera Project under Rising United, an organization dedicated to empowering women in the fields of science and technology. The organization has officially introduced her as a participant.

In the event that Varshney successfully completes her skydiving mission in 2025, the Hera Project anticipates that she will establish new benchmarks in four categories: surpassing the existing highest altitude free fall record by 1.1 km, enduring the longest duration of free fall, independently breaking the sound barrier at a speed of 264 kph, and achieving the highest crewed balloon flight, exceeding the previous record by over 1 km.

The organization stated, "At Rising United, we are embarking on a momentous journey, shattering records and barriers to advance women's equality and ignite the interest of young women in STEAM education."

Varshney holds a PhD in materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and boasts a track record of more than 1,200 jumps, specializing in vertical freefall, as reported by Space.com.

Dubbed as the "First Female Mission to the Edge of Space," this project has set out to encourage minority women to make groundbreaking achievements. Among the other two contenders are Eliana Rodriquez and Diana Valerin Jimenez, both of Latino heritage.

Beyond the groundbreaking attempts, this initiative will encompass educational initiatives aimed at schools to amplify interest in science and technology among girls, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

Varshney shared with Space.com that skydiving has unexpectedly intertwined with her scientific training. She mentioned, "Skydiving has turned out to be more analogous to my scientific journey than I could have initially imagined. It provided me with an alternative path to pursue my aspiration of lifelong learning."

Reflecting on her journey, Varshney, who has dedicated a decade to skydiving, conveyed, "My academic progression and career trajectory have been closely interlinked with my journey in skydiving as it evolved over time. Thus, I began skydiving."

Her introduction to tandem jumping was an exhilarating experience, motivating her to adopt it as a hobby. She shared, "I was seeking an entirely different outlet, a form of release from my everyday routine. In a clichéd manner, it became a way to completely detach from my daily life."

"It morphed into an ongoing voyage, parallel to my academic endeavors, as another avenue for pursuing knowledge," she added.

The stratosphere, spanning from approximately 6 km to 50 km above the Earth's surface, transitions into the mesosphere.