Meet Akshata Krishnamurthy, First Indian Citizen To Operate Mars Rover

"No dream is ever too big or crazy," says Akshata Krishnamurthy, an Indian woman who has scripted history as the first citizen from the country to operate the rover on Mars with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The rocket scientist proudly shared her feat and encouraging story on Instagram, inspiring her followers to "dream big and live their best lives." She holds a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is one of the few Indians who was offered the opportunity to work full-time at NASA. 

Who Is Akshata Krishnamurthy?

According to her LinkedIn, Krishnamurthy is a Principal Investigator and Mission Science Phase Lead with NASA, where she has worked for over five years. She wrote on her Instagram that she came to the United States with a dream to lead robotic operations on Earth and Mars. Despite discouragement from her peers, she proved to them that determination can get you your dream job even as an Indian national.

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A post shared by Dr. Akshata Krishnamurthy | Rocket Scientist (@astro.akshata)

Journey To NASA

Akshata Krishnamurthy's journey in the USA started 13 years ago. She shared on Instagram that she was told that making it to NASA was impossible as a foreign national on a visa and told her to have a plan 'B' or to change her field completely. "I’m glad that I didn’t listen to anyone. I persevered until I found a way!" Krishnamurthy said. 

She also shared in another Instagram post that during her time at MIT, she was presented with the opportunity to fuse academic knowledge with practical application. "I worked on two NASA space missions for my thesis, and both of them successfully launched during my PhD. I also mentored several early-stage startups as a Sandbox Fellow, an incredible experience!" she said.

Her journey to the sought-after Space Administration was full of challenges and leaps of faith. "From getting my PhD at MIT to knocking 100s of doors to get hired full-time at NASA, nothing came easy," she shared, followed by, "Today, I work on multiple cool space missions including the Perseverance rover collecting samples to bring back to Earth."

Limitless Dreams

Akshata Krishnamurthy uses her Instagram platform to encourage dreaming without restrictions. She said in the caption of an Instagram post, "No one before you or after you has to prove or validate that your dreams are achievable. Be true to yourself and don’t be limited by people around you. Free yourself from the short-sighted vision that the world sets for you."

She said that dreaming big is not only about personal growth, rather it is a collective aspiration. "Whether in science, technology, or societal progress, the audacity to dream on a grand scale has been the driving force behind some of the most significant advancements in human history. As we celebrate the power of bold thinking, we contribute to a legacy of innovation that echoes through generations," she expressed in a post.