Lalithambika


Dr.V. R. Lalithambika, an engineer with ISRO is a specialist in Advanced Launcher Technologies. She led the Gaganyaan mission that sent Indian astronauts to space in 2022.

 

Early life

Lalithambika, who was born in Thiruvananthapuram was fascinated by the Thumba rocket launch centre. She did her graduation and post graduation from Thiruvananthapuram. Lalithambika did her PhD while working for ISRO.

After her studies, she joined ISRO. She played a significant role in sending over 100 satellites into space as part of the ISRO team. She has worked with many rockets including Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Before joining ISRO, she had also worked with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. She led a team that designed rocket control and guidance systems.

She was awarded the Space Gold Medal (2001), ISRO Individual Merit Award and ISRO Performance Excellence Award (2013). She has also won Astronautical Society of India award for excellence in launch vehicle technology.

In 2023 she was awarded the highest French civilian order Legion d'Honneur for boosting space cooperation between India and France. She had worked with the French CNES (Centre national d'études spatiales), the French Space agency.

This is the highest civilian award in France. It is a proud moment that someone, that too a woman scientist from India, got the award.

 

 

 

 

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