Meet Dr. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, the ‘Rocket Woman’ of India. From gazing at stars in Lucknow to steering India’s lunar missions, her journey is stellar. A physics enthusiast from Lucknow, Ritu’s journey to the stars is nothing short of a modern-day odyssey. With a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering, she joined ISRO and quickly became a pivotal figure in India’s space narrative. She was also the Deputy Operations Director for Mangalyaan and Mission Director for Chandrayaan missions.
Power Move
Dr. Ritu soared to new heights in 2023 as her brilliance was the driving force behind the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission. Launched on July 22, 2023, this marked India’s first soft landing on the lunar South Pole. Her leadership and vision have not only propelled India into a new space era but also cemented her legacy as a luminary in aerospace. For young dreamers everywhere, Dr. Srivastava’s journey from the classrooms of Lucknow to the helm of ISRO’s lunar missions is a reminder that the universe is within our reach.
The POPxo Power Women List is an annual list that celebrates incredible Indian women from diverse domains who make power moves that have a real impact. With The POPxo Power Women List 2024, we celebrate 24 phenomenal women. To see the entire list, click here.
