This list features Indian Americans who range from astronauts to researchers to program managers.
India’s space odyssey in the recent past has looked promising with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) making significant strides in space exploration. The success of Mangalyaan, India’s Mars mission that cost less than $70 million boosted the confidence of the agency and also proclaimed to the world that insightful planning and execution can cut the cost of space travel. The success of ISRO in launching own satellites have won the trust of private companies who now look bullishly in investing in ISRO’s private space programs.
When it comes to the success of space missions, calculations and engineering done by experts are inexplicable elements. Indians have shown an aptitude towards this ever since man started exploring the borders of space. Indians have been playing an integral part in space exploration programs of the National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA), which has talents from across the world working in tandem for the agency’s space exploration tasks.
Let’s look at some of the top Indian American woman scientists who made remarkable contributions to NASA’s space expeditions. This list features Indian Americans who range from astronauts to researchers to program managers.
Kalpana Chawla
Kalpana Chawla is both a pride and sorrow for not only India but also for NASA. She was the first Indian woman in space perished in mid-air after her second voyage in the space shuttle Columbia ended in a disaster in 2003. Chawla was born in Karnal, India, on July 1, 1961, as the youngest of four children.
Chawla obtained a degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College and immigrated to the US. In the early 80’s she became a naturalized citizen. Chawla pursued master’s degree from the University of Texas and later joined the University of Colorado to get a doctorate in aerospace engineering. In 1988, the year she was awarded doctorate, Chawla joined NASA and in
1994 she was selected as an astronaut candidate.
In November 1997, she became the first Indian American woman to travel to space aboard the space shuttle Columbia on flight STS-87.
Sunita Williams
Sunita Williams born on September 19, 1965, to Indian-Slovenian parents is the second Indian origin woman to enter space. She has to her account two flights to the International Space Station (ISS).
With 29 hours of the spacewalk and a total of more than 195 days in space, Williams has set records for both as a woman aeronaut.
While at ISS during her first space travel in 2006, Williams participated in the Boston Marathon running 42.2 km (26.2 miles) on the station’s treadmill. During her second voyage as part of the crew of
Soyuz, TMA-05M Williams completed a triathlon. She used a treadmill, a stationary bicycle, and a weightlifting machine to simulate the swimming portion of the race.
Williams is one of the four astronauts who has been selected for test flights in NASA’s Commercial Crew program. The program will lift off in two new private crewed spacecraft, SpaceX’s Dragon and Boeing’s CST-100, taking astronauts and supplies to the ISS. It is scheduled to begin next year.
Dr. Madhulika Guhathakurta
Dr. Madhulika Guhathakurta (also known as Lika) is a NASA astrophysicist who works as a scientist, mission designer, instrument builder, directing and managing science programs and teacher and spokesperson for NASA’s mission and vision in the Heliophysics Division.
Guhathakurta was born in Kolkata, West Bengal and joined NASA headquarters in December of 1998. She did her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Delhi and secured doctorate degree from the University of Denver.
Guhathakurta is the lead program scientist for NASA’s Living With a Star initiative. She has also authored four advanced graduate school level textbooks, (Heliophysics Volumes I, II, III and IV) published by Cambridge University Press.
Dr. Anita Sengupta
Dr. Anita Sengupta is an aerospace engineer, vice president, professor, and pilot who works to advance Green Transportation and the Exploration of Space, through the development of complex systems and novel technologies, public speaking and teaching.
Starting from September 2012, she worked as NASA’s Project Manager and Mission Manager for an International Space Station (ISS) fundamental physics facility, the Cold Atom Laboratory.
Her responsibilities included technical and resource management of a team of 50 engineers and scientists in the proposal, system architecting, design, fabrication, crew training, human factors assessment, and integration and test of a first of its kind ultra-cold quantum gas multi-user facility.
Sharmila Bhattacharya
Sharmila Bhattacharya was born to Indian parents in Lagos, Nigeria, and grew up in India. She got bachelor’s degree in Biological Chemistry from Wellesley College. She started her career out as an undergraduate research assistant in the biochemistry lab at Princeton University from where she later pursued masters and got Ph.D.
Bhattacharya was hired by Lockheed Martin to work at the NASA as a payload scientist at Ames Center. She was later promoted to the spot of Chief Scientist in the Small Spacecraft Division of the Ames center. Bhattacharya now heads NASA’s Biomodel Performance and Behavior laboratory.