Dr Ritu Karidhal Srivastava is a senior scientist of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) who has played an integral part in building India’s space missions' trajectory. She was the Mission Director for Chandrayaan-2 and the Deputy Operations Director for Mangalyaan, India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM). She is also known as the 'Rocket Woman of India'.
Dr Srivastava was the Mission Director for Chandrayaan-3 which successfully touched down on the lunar surface on August 23, 2023, marking a monumental achievement for the nation's space programme. Nearly 54 women engineers and scientists were part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and they handled several important responsibilities.
| Ritu Karidhal Srivastava |
Karidhal was born in Lucknow, India. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Physics from Lucknow University and her Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). She then pursued a PhD in Physics, but she left her studies after six months to join ISRO.
At ISRO, Karidhal's educational background and exceptional performance at IISc quickly earned her the trust and respect of her colleagues. She was given challenging roles, even though she was still a young scientist. She fearlessly tackled these projects, and her contributions were essential to the success of several missions.
In 2013, Karidhal was appointed Deputy Mission Director of MOM. This mission was India's first interplanetary endeavour and was a major success. Karidhal's leadership and expertise were instrumental in the mission's success.
In 2019, Karidhal was appointed Mission Director of Chandrayaan-2. This mission was also a major success, and it made India the fourth country to soft-land a spacecraft on the moon.
Karidhal is a role model for young women in science. She is a living example of how hard work and dedication can lead to success. She is also an inspiration to all who are passionate about space exploration.
Karidhal's awards and honours include the ISRO Young Scientist Award, the ISRO Team Award for MOM, the ASI Team Award, and the Women Achievers in Aerospace (2017) by the Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies & Industries (SIATI). She has also published over 20 papers in international and national publications.
Karidhal is a true pioneer in space exploration. She is an inspiration to all who dream of exploring the stars.
