India achieved yet another feat today by launching Chandrayaan 2. After a technical glitch, the launch of the most awaited Satellite was delayed by a week after which it became as success today as the rocket shot off from Sriharikota. However, all the glory goes to the two mind-boggling directors behind this entire mission – Muthayya Vanitha and Ritu Karidhal. Although, their work isn’t done until Chandrayaan 2 reaches the moon in September, these scientists from ISRO have put their heart and soul into this mission. India has never had women project leads for missions with larger budgets or payloads. But, these two shattered all stereotypes by taking up Chandrayaan 2. Here’s what you need to know about these two powerful women:

Muthayya Vanitha 

Vanitha is the project director of ISRO’s Chandrayaan 2. Just in her early 40s, Vanitha has achieved a lot already being a part of ISRO adding this beautiful feather to her cap. She was initially reluctant to take this project up but Chandrayaan 1’s project director Annadurai, who knew she was more than capable to do this, persuaded and convinced her to take it up.

Winning the best scientist award at the Astronautical Society of India in 2006, Vanitha, who is the electronics system engineer at ISRO is known for her great problem solving skills.

 

Ritu Karidhal

Known as the ‘Rocket Woman’ of India, Ritu Karidhal has been closely working with Muthayya Vanitha and she is the mission director of this project. However, this is not Ritu’s first time, she was the deputy mission director for Chandrayaan 1 in the year 2013-2014. However, Ritu’s responsibility kicks in once the Satellite is launched and is up and onward. It was she who designed the onward autonomy system, that is, when the spacecraft becomes relatively independent it would have the ability to navigate its trajectory and respond to satellite signals.

This engineer has received the Young Woman Scientist Award from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in the year 2007.