-
Ritu Karidhal Srivastava – "India’s Rocket Woman"
Ritu Karidhal Srivastava is a Senior Scientist at ISRO and has played a crucial leadership role in India’s space missions
Impact on Society :
Encouraged Women in STEM –Became a role model for young girls in India to pursue careers in science and space exploration.
Challenged Gender Norms –Proved that women can lead complex space missions in a male-dominated industry.
Put India on the Global Space Map –Her work contributed to India’s reputation as a leader in space technology. -
1975 – Born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Grew up with a deep fascination for space and science.
Read newspapers and books to learn about ISRO and NASA. -
1997 – Joined ISRO as a Scientist/Engineer
Started her journey at India’s premier space agency. -
2007 – Recognized for her work in Spacecraft Autonomy
Worked on various missions, contributing to satellite launch technologies. -
2010-2012 – Worked on Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) Planning
Played a major role in conceptualizing the autonomous system of Mangalyaan. -
2013 – Deputy Operations Director of Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission - MOM)
Helped in the design and execution of India’s first interplanetary mission.
MOM made India the first country to reach Mars on its first attempt.
India became the fourth country to successfully reach Mars.
MOM was launched on November 5, 2013 and entered Mars orbit on September 24, 2014. -
2014-2018 – Worked on Chandrayaan-2 Lunar Mission
Led the mission planning and spacecraft autonomy systems. -
2019 – Mission Director of Chandrayaan-2
Led India’s second moon mission, which successfully placed an orbiter around the Moon.
Although the Vikram lander lost communication, the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter continues to send crucial data. -
2023 – Key Scientist in Chandrayaan-3 & Aditya-L1 Missions
Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023, making India the first country to do so.
Worked on Aditya-L1, India's first solar mission, launched on September 2, 2023 -
Present (2025) – Continues to Lead ISRO’s Space Missions
Inspiring the next generation of scientists, especially women in STEM.
Frequently speaks at global and national space events.