India became the first nation to successfully launch a spacecraft close to the moon's south pole thanks to the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which ended on August 23 with the landing of India's lunar rover.

The Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, which made history for the country’s space exploration, was a resounding success, garnering global attention and highlighting the crucial efforts of female scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The team's collective efforts, which included a significant number (over 100) women scientists and engineers, were vital in the project's success. They played crucial roles in every aspect of the mission, as evidenced by the fact that several of these gifted people were present in the control room throughout the crucial launch and landing phases.

S. Somanath, the head of ISRO, discussed the significant contribution made by female scientists to the Chandrayaan-3 project. Notably, they were instrumental in the conception, creation, and implementation. Some played a key role in assuring safe navigation during the difficult part of the lander's fall to the moon's surface.

Commended & Commemorated

These outstanding scientists' crucial contributions to the success of the mission were emphasized during a recent meeting with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He commended their commitment and skill, stressing how crucial their work was to the mission's success. "This mission's female scientists have been instrumental in making it successful. This feat just could not have been accomplished without their assistance. Future generations will be inspired by them,” said the Indian PM.

Chandrayaan-3's lunar landing site was rightfully given the name "Shiv Shakti," which is a reference to the idea of amalgamation of masculine and feminine force in Hindu mythology. This memorial honours the female scientists whose commitment and toil helped the project reach new heights.

Faces Behind the Triumph: Women Pioneers in ISRO

Kalpana Kalahasti, the deputy project director and a crucial member of the mission team, is one of the outstanding women scientists who made a significant contribution to this accomplishment. Kalahasti is a satellite expert who directed the construction of complex imaging equipment necessary for taking high-resolution pictures of the Earth's surface. He has a lot of knowledge from past lunar and Mars missions.

An essential part of the creation of the lunar rover "Pragyan," which is now exploring the moon's surface, was performed by robotics expert Reema Ghosh. She shared her happiness at seeing the rover successfully land on the lunar surface with contagious enthusiasm.

Ritu Karidhal, often referred to as the "rocket woman" of India, played a crucial role in ISRO's initiatives. She has cemented her status as a pioneering scientist thanks to her work as project director for Chandrayaan-2 and her contributions to the Mars orbiter mission. "Chandrayaan has written India's name on the moon forever," she said on social media, encapsulating the significance of the accomplishment. India becomes the first nation to touch down at the lunar south pole. I was a key player, along with the others.

Another prominent scientist, Nidhi Porwal, committed four years of her life and her in-depth knowledge to making Chandrayaan-3 a success. She called the moment the lander touched down on the moon "magic." Like her coworkers, Porwal acts as a role model for aspiring female scientists.

Striving for Equity: Women in STEM

While showcasing the accomplishments of women scientists in India's space programme, the Chandrayaan-3 mission also brought attention to the urgent need for more gender diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sectors. Although over 43 percent of STEM graduates in India are female, the country still has a large gender disparity when it comes to representation in leadership roles and research organisations.

Although there has been progress, Vineeta Bal, a biologist and former member of the Prime Minister's task group on women in science, emphasised that India should aim for even greater increases in women's engagement in STEM. Only 13% of scientists and scientific professors in higher education and research institutes in India are women, according to a national study, showing that attempts to change gender ratios have not been totally successful.

Former World Health Organisation Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan emphasised the significance of rectifying the mismatch in institutional leadership. She emphasised the need for in-depth analysis and remedial actions to make sure that women are represented more broadly and in leadership roles as well.

Paving the Way for a Brighter Future

The success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and the contributions made by women scientists therein serve as an example for aspiring young minds and a reminder that inclusion and diversity are essential for scientific advancement. As India celebrates its successes in space exploration, the country must step up efforts to give women equal chances and platforms to make meaningful contributions to STEM fields. India's bright and diversified pool of scientists can only be fully utilized through such concerted efforts, opening the door for even more amazing advancements in the future.