Meet Ritu, Lucknow’s ‘Rocket Woman’ Who Is Leading Chandrayaan-3 Mission

Today is going to be a crucial day for India. The eyes of the entire world are on India. Today, from Satish Dhawan Space Center located in Sriharikota, India will launch Chandrayaan-3 at 2:35 pm. Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander, rover, and propulsion module carrying a total of six payloads. But the most special thing is that this mission is being led by the renowned space scientist Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, popularly known as the ‘Rocket Woman.’ Let’s find out who Ritu Karidhal is and why she has been entrusted with the responsibility of this important mission.

The responsibility of Chandrayaan-3’s landing has been given to female scientist Ritu Karidhal. Ritu Karidhal will play her role as the Mission Director for Chandrayaan-3. Hailing from Lucknow, Ritu is a shining example of Indian women excelling in the field of science. Having showcased her expertise in the Mangalyaan mission, Ritu will now embark on another successful journey with Chandrayaan-3. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava has been assigned this responsibility based on her previous role in the mission. She has previously served as the Deputy Operations Director for the Mars Orbiter Mission. Ritu, known as the ‘Rocket Woman,’ has been actively involved in various missions and has made significant contributions to India’s space endeavors.

Ritu pursued her education in Lucknow, completing her Master’s degree in Physics from Lucknow University. After developing an interest in science and space, she joined the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. Ritu then began her career at ISRO, where she achieved specialization in aerospace. Her career has been filled with accomplishments, and she was awarded the Young Scientist Award in 2007. Her name is included among the leading space scientists in the country due to her contributions to various missions. Ritu is also known as the ‘Rocket Woman.’

Graduated from Lucknow

Ritu completed her schooling from Navayuga Kanya Mahavidyalaya. She pursued her graduation in Physics from Lucknow University. After six months of research, she cleared the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). Ritu started working with ISRO in 1997.

Handled Critical Responsibilities in Various Missions

Ritu Karidhal has played crucial roles in missions like Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan-2. Since childhood, Ritu has had a keen interest in space and space science. The list of awards she has received is as long as her achievements. She has received the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Young Scientist Award, ISRO Team Award for Mars Orbiter Mission, ASI Team Award, and the Aerospace Women Achievement Award from the Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries. Ritu is highly regarded among her peers for her dedication and passion towards her work.

No Orbiter in Chandrayaan This Time

Chandrayaan-3 will not carry an orbiter this time. It will carry an indigenous propulsion module. This module will take the lander and rover to the lunar orbit. It will then revolve around the moon in a circular orbit of 100 kilometers on all four sides. It is not referred to as an orbiter because it will not conduct a study of the moon. Its weight will be 2145.01 kilograms, with 1696.39 kilograms of fuel. Therefore, the actual weight of the module is 448.62 kilograms.”