Scientist Receives French Honor

France has bestowed its top civilian award, Legion d’Honneur, upon Dr. V R Lalithambika, a senior scientist from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The award recognizes her significant contributions to enhancing space collaboration between India and France.

French Recognition for Space Collaboration: In a ceremony attended by French Ambassador Thierry Mathou, Lalithambika, former Director of the Human Spaceflight Programme at ISRO, was honored for her outstanding work in advanced launch vehicle technology, particularly focusing on ISRO’s renowned Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Legion d’Honneur Conferred: The prestigious Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur was conferred on Lalithambika, acknowledging her pivotal role in fostering the Indo-French space partnership.

Ambassador Mathou commended her expertise, accomplishments, and tireless efforts, describing her as a trailblazer in space technology.

Gaganyaan Project Collaboration: In 2018, Lalithambika, as the director of the Human Spaceflight Programme, collaborated closely with the French National Space Agency (CNES) for the Gaganyaan project.

This initiative marked a significant milestone in the two countries’ joint efforts in human space exploration.

Key Achievements and Cooperation: Lalithambika played a crucial role in the signing of the first joint agreement between ISRO and CNES on human spaceflight.

This agreement facilitated the exchange of specialists between the two countries to work on space medicine, emphasizing the collaborative spirit in space exploration.

Promotion of STEM Careers: Expressing her delight upon receiving the award, Lalithambika expressed her hope that this recognition would inspire more women to pursue careers in STEM fields.

She emphasized the importance of encouraging women to excel in their chosen areas within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics domains.

Second Pact for Indian Astronaut Program: Lalithambika’s coordination with CNES extended to a second pact signed between France and India for the Indian astronaut program.

This agreement outlined CNES’s commitment to training India’s flight physicians and mission control teams, promoting international collaboration in space operations.

Inspiration for Future Scientists: The French Embassy highlighted Lalithambika’s role as an inspiration to the next generation of scientists in both Toulouse and India.

Her efforts in promoting inclusivity, particularly by enabling the recruitment of civilians, including women, for the Indian astronaut program, were acknowledged.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Times of India