Chandrayaan 2: Meet Minal Rohit, Scientist And Systems Engineer

Chandrayaan 2, was launched by ISRO on Monday afternoon carrying the dreams of billions of Indians. This Moon mission was led by women, they worked round the clock to put India on the space map of the world. One of the scientists who worked for the mission is Minal Rohit, who is the Systems Engineer for Chandrayaan 2. Let’s get to know her better.

Start of her career

Minal Rohit started her career as a Satellite Communications Engineer at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Later, she went on to work for the Space Application Centre. As Systems Engineer for the Mangalyaan mission, she helped integrate and test the sensors that the orbiter was carrying.

As Systems Engineer for the Mangalyaan mission, she helped integrate and test the sensors that the orbiter was carrying.

Her education

Minal Rohit has completed her B.Tech in Electronics and Communication from the Nirma Institute of Technology in Ahmedabad. In 1999, she joined ISRO. She was very inspired by the flight of PSLV rocket into space which went on its way flawlessly. Initially, she wanted to opt for medicine as her career but she missed her admission for a Dental course by only a single mark. She then chose the field of engineering to pursue her dreams.

Featured in Breakthrough's short film

Directed by Emily Driscoll, Snapshots from Afar is a Breakthrough's short film. The film has succeeded to a large extent in capturing the moments that symbolises women power. Along with Minal Rohit, it features two other women scientists named Seetha Somasundaram and Nandini Harinath.

Minal speaks about her childhood inspiration of becoming a scientist. She always wanted to have a white coat for herself that scientists wear.

Instrumental in Mangalyaan mission

Minal Rohit was instrumental in India’s acclaimed Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), precisely remembered called as Mangalyaan.

Read also: Chandrayaan 2: Meet Dr. Shyama Narendranath, Operations Scientist

A woman with a unique approach

Minal Rohit has a very unique approach when it comes to balancing work and family life. In her words, “We think of our satellites and payloads as our babies, too. To us, they have lives. So the rules for office and home are common: Patience, Procedures, Priorities. If you’re patient, that’s half the battle won. Don’t allow for single-point failure; have backup plans in your mind all the time to avoid chaos. And you can’t be everywhere at once; so assign your priorities. The mind and heart have to be in sync. You must always be true to yourself.” As told to Conde Nast Traveller.

Research contributions of Minal Rohit

As a senior engineer at the ISRO, Minal Rohit served as the Project Manager as well as Systems Engineer. She was primarily involved with incorporating the components of the methane sensor (MSM), Lyman-alpha Photometer (LAP), Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS), and Mars Colour Camera (MCC) onto the orbiter.

Minal Rohit was one of the key faces in the successful accomplishment of the Mars Orbiter Mission. She was the Project Manager in that mission.

Extreme dedication to work

Minal Rohit was one of the key faces in the successful accomplishment of the Mars Orbiter Mission. She was the Project Manager  and Head Engineer in that mission. Rohit and her team confined themselves in a room and worked for around 18 hours a day. The team was working to make methane sensors for the mars mission.

Read also: Meet Vanitha Muthayya, Project Director Of ISRO Chandrayaan 2 Mission

Udisha Srivastav is an intern with SheThePeople.Tv