The Inspiring Rocket Woman of India "Ritu Karidhal" behind the Chandrayaan 3

By Dhanalakshmi M

Chandrayaan-3, the super ambitious mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation, took off on July 14 at around 2:35 PM from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India. It's such an exciting moment for India's space program! Leading the charge is none other than Ritu Karidhal, affectionately known as the "Rocket Woman of India.". She's at the helm of this mission, making waves in the scientific community.

Who is Ritu Karidhal?

Pic Source : StarsUnZip

Ritu Karidhal was born on April 13, 1975, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. She's married to Avinash Srivastav, and they have two adorable kids named Aditya and Anisha.

Ritu Karidhal is an amazing scientist leading ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 mission. She's the mission director, overseeing this ambitious project. But before that, she worked as the deputy director of the Mars mission.

From a tender age, Ritu Karidhal nurtured a fascination for the vast expanse of space. Collecting news articles pertaining to space endeavours by esteemed institutions such as ISRO and NASA became a cherished pastime during her school years.

Ritu Karidhal's Career and Education

Pic Source : Twitter

Ritu Karidhal joined the organisation in 1997 and has been making waves ever since. She's truly one of the most important members of the ISRO team, playing a key role in their missions.

Ritu was also part of the team behind Chandrayaan-2, the lunar mission. In fact, she was the mission director, overseeing everything and making sure it all went smoothly.

Ritu did her graduation in B. Sc. Physics and then went on to complete her M. Sc. in Physics from the University of Lucknow. She pursued her dreams further and got admitted to the prestigious Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, where she specialized in Aerospace. She's a true expert in her field.

She has published over 20 papers in journals, both national and international.

Ritu Karidhal Awards and Recognition

Pic Source : Women Economic Forum

Ritu Karidhal received the prestigious 'ISRO Young Scientist Award' from the esteemed former President APJ Abdul Kalam. She's also been honoured with the 'ISRO Team Award for MOM (2015)' and the 'ASI Team Award'.

And here's one for the ladies in aerospace: she was recognized as one of the 'Women Achievers in Aerospace' in 2017 by the Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies & Industries (SIATI).

A Source of Inspiration:

Pic Source : rediff.com

Ritu Karidhal's contributions to the Chandrayaan 3 mission exemplify her pioneering spirit. Following the Chandrayaan 2 mission, she continued her pursuit of excellence, taking on the crucial responsibility of leading the mission to its next phase. As the Mission Director of Chandrayaan 3, Ritu is instrumental in shaping India's lunar exploration program and inspiring countless young minds to reach for the stars.

With Chandrayaan 3, India aims to build upon the successes and lessons learned from its predecessor missions. Ritu Karidhal's expertise and leadership skills are crucial in ensuring the smooth execution of the mission. Her exceptional knowledge of spacecraft operations, mission planning, and navigation makes her an invaluable asset to the team.

Ritu Karidhal's accomplishments and dedication have not only made her a role model for aspiring scientists and engineers but have also ignited a passion for space exploration in the hearts of countless young Indians.

Information Source: Various News Articles