Women In Aerospace Day
By Khushi Sheth
On 20th May, we appreciate and acknowledge women in the field of aerospace, a domain that was perceived as male-dominant, and perhaps still is by many. Were you aware of the fact that the first computer algorithm was written by a woman? Yes, in the 1800s, Ada Lovelace designed a code for Charles Babbage’s early mechanical computer, laying the foundation for modern programming. Her visionary work became instrumental for engineers and programmers around the world!
Katherine Johnson was a mathematician who played an integral and unimaginable role in the success of NASA’s first crewed space flight.
Did you know that the US record for the most days in space (over 600!) goes to a woman, Dr. Peggy Whitson?
Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to space, she flew solo and proved to the patriarchal society that women too could face the psychology and physical extremes of the galaxy.
Today, one of the major stakeholders behind SpaceX’s success is the President and COO, Gwynne Shotwell.
You would probably be aware of the legendary astronauts- Sunita Williams and Kalpana Chawla, two women who are deeply respected for their contributions. Kalpana Chawla became the first Indian-born woman in space and Sunita Williams, of Indian-Slovenian descent, has spent over 300 days in space!
However, these are only a few among the many women who have paved the way to success in aerospace. From engineers, pilots, mission specialists, mathematicians, women always did and still continue to aim for the stars, both literally and figuratively! It is interesting to note that Dr. Ritu Karidhal played a crucial role as the Mission Director for Chandrayaan-3, she also played a key role as the Deputy Operations Director of India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) and she was the Project Director for Chandrayaan-2! To honour her contributions, she is also called the “Rocket Woman of India”. Isn’t that inspiring?
People believe that women have begun coming into the STEM arena only recently, but it’s just a highly conceived misconception! Really, they’re getting more political recognition now which makes them stand out. Madam Curie, for instance, was barred from pursuing education, as a political setback, but that did not stop her from winning two Nobel prizes! So, that is why this day is important, to acknowledge the fact that yes, women are currently exceptional in this field but also to highlight that they always have been, despite the sociopolitical setbacks!
Women constitute 20-25% of ISRO’s workforce currently and hopefully, these numbers will increase drastically with more and more passionate women coming forward in this arena!
Women in Aerospace Day reminds us that women have always been integral to scientific progress, even if history may not have always given them the credit they deserve. It reminds us to encourage the new generations to aim, not only for the stars, but for infinity and beyond!