Meet Kalpana Kalahasti, Deputy Project Director of India's Iconic Successful Chandrayaan 3 Mission

By Dhanalakshmi M

In the vast tapestry of the universe, there are those who not only dream of touching the stars but also possess the intellect, determination, and passion to transform those dreams into reality.

Consolidating India's position as a prominent global player in space exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a historic milestone on Wednesday, August 23rd. The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully executed a gentle touchdown on the lunar surface, marking a significant moment. A heart touching and proud moment for every Indian that left many of us teary eyed.

At the heart of this achievement lies an exceptional group of five individuals (and the whole team of ISRO) who held crucial responsibilities on this mission. One of these exceptional team members is Kalpana Kalahasti, serving as the deputy project director, who has indelibly inscribed her name in the annals of history while also contributing to the progress of women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) domain.

Who is Kalpana Kalahasti?

Pic Source : India Posts English

Kalpana Kalahasti, the deputy project director of Chandrayaan 3, has made her mark in history and played a significant role in pushing forward women's progress in the field of science. 

Kalpana was born on May 15, 1980, in Bangalore, India. Right from the start, she was super curious about stars and space stuff. Growing up in a family that was all about exploring and asking questions, her love for space really took off when she was a kid. She was an amazing student, totally rocking it in math and science all through her academic journey. 

Kalpana's early career at ISRO

After graduating, Kalpana kicked off her career by joining the brilliant team at ISRO in 2003. At ISRO, she dug into all sorts of satellite projects, putting her smarts to work designing, developing, and testing satellite payloads. Her knack for solving problems and thinking outside the box made her shine bright, and everyone started to see her as the next important person in the organisation. 

Kalpana's Leadership and Pioneering Accomplishments 

Kalpana, a skilled scientist, was given a big responsibility by ISRO in 2010. She became the leader of the Mars Orbiter Mission, which was a very important project for India. This mission was about sending a spacecraft to Mars. With Kalpana leading the way, the mission did really well. In 2014, the spacecraft reached Mars and collected important information about its atmosphere and surface. 

Pic Source : ABP Majha - ABP News

People all around the world praised and respected her for what she achieved in the field of science. She became a hero for many people, especially girls who wanted to learn about space. They saw her as a symbol of power and someone who showed that girls can do anything boys can do, even in jobs that mostly had men in the past.

Kalpana's Immense Display of Hard Work: 

Kalpana kept helping ISRO with its big space projects even after achieving a lot. She worked on missions to explore the moon, make satellite navigation systems, and work with other space agencies worldwide. She really wanted to bring new ideas, work with others, and explore space as much as possible. Because of this, ISRO and the global space industry learned a lot from her. 

But she wasn't just good at her job; she is also a very kind and down-to-earth person. She spent time teaching and guiding young scientists. She also talks a lot about how important it is to teach science to more people. Her talks inspired many students to think about working in space science and technology. 

Kalpana Honours and Recognition

Kalpana has received many awards and honours during her career. One important award she got was the Padma Shri from the Indian government. This award was given to her because of her great work in space science. Her story was also told in documentaries and books, which inspired many people. 

According to the report, around 54 women engineers and scientists have been part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Kalpana has inspired the team during the difficulties faced by the moon mission due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pic Source : Getty Images

Her coworkers say that she made sure the mission continued even during the pandemic. She had worked on the second moon mission and the Mangalyaan mission before.

After the mission succeeded, she spoke to the country at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network. She said, This will be the most special time for all of us. Since we began fixing our spacecraft after the Chandrayaan 2 mission, the team has been fully focused on Chandrayaan 3."

Kalpana was curious in her childhood who has now become a top space explorer. Her story shows how being determined and curious can help you learn a lot and do big things. She contributed her bit towards the success of ISRO and is motivating new scientists everywhere.

Congratulations Team Chandrayaan 3 and ISRO! Thank you so much for making us feel so proud. You have indeed changed the popular rhyme, 'Chanda Mama Door ke'  as India is now on the Moon.

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