Ritu Karidhal: The Rocket Woman of India
Ritu Karidhal Srivastava is an Indian aerospace engineer and scientist who is working in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). She is the Mission Director of India’s third moon mission, Chandrayaan-3. She has been referred to as one of the many “Rocket Women” of India.
Karidhal was born on 13 April 1975 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. She was born into a middle-class family and her father was a government employee. She was always interested in science and space, and she would often spend hours stargazing.
Karidhal attended the Mahila Vidyalaya PG College in Lucknow, where she received her B.Sc. in Physics. She then went on to Lucknow University, where she received her M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering.
After graduating from university, Karidhal joined ISRO in 1997 as a Junior Scientist. She quickly rose through the ranks and has held several key positions in the organization. She was the Deputy Operations Director of the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), which made India the fourth country to reach Mars. She was also the Deputy Mission Director of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which successfully landed a rover on the moon.
Karidhal is a recipient of several awards, including the ISRO Young Scientist Award, the ISRO Team Award for MOM, the ASI Team Award, and the Women Achievers in Aerospace award. She is a role model for young women who aspire to a career in space science.
In addition to her work at ISRO, Karidhal is also a mentor to young women who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields. She is a strong advocate for gender equality in the workplace and she is committed to inspiring the next generation of female scientists and engineers.
Karidhal is a true inspiration to many. She is a brilliant engineer, a dedicated scientist, and a passionate advocate for women in STEM. She is a shining example of what can be achieved when women are given the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
Here are some of the challenges that Karidhal has faced in her career:
- Being a woman in a male-dominated field
- Having to prove herself over and over again
- Dealing with discrimination and stereotypes
Despite these challenges, Karidhal has never given up on her dreams. She is a role model for young women everywhere and she shows that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
Karidhal is a true inspiration and she is making a difference in the world. She is helping to pave the way for future generations of female scientists and engineers. She is a force to be reckoned with and she is sure to achieve great things in the years to come.