N Valarmathi, Voice Behind ISRO Rocket Launches, Passes Away

Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist N. Valarmathi, the voice behind the rocket countdown, passed away on Saturday evening due to a cardiac arrest in Chennai. The Chandrayaan 3 launch on July 14 will be known as her final countdown.

ISRO Scientist Valarmathi Dies

Paying a tribute to her demise, Dr P. Venkitakrishnan, former director of the ISRO, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "The voice of Valarmathi Madam will not be there for the countdowns of future missions of the ISRO from Sriharikota. Chandrayaan-3 was her final countdown announcement. An unexpected demise. Feel so sad. Pranams!" Tributes have been pouring in for Valarmathi on social media.

The voice of Valarmathi Madam will not be there for the countdowns of future missions of ISRO from Sriharikotta. Chandrayan 3 was her final countdown announcement. An unexpected demise . Feel so sad.Pranams! pic.twitter.com/T9cMQkLU6J

— Dr. P V Venkitakrishnan (@DrPVVenkitakri1) September 3, 2023

Offering condolences to her family and friends, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar wrote on his X handle, "Saddened to hear about the passing of N Valarmathi ji, the voice behind many ISRO launch countdowns, including Chandrayaan 3."

Who Is N. Valarmathi

Valarmathi, a native of Tamil Nadu’s Ariyalur, was born on July 31, 1959. She joined the ISRO in 1984 and has since participated in countless missions.

She graduated from the Government College of Technology in Coimbatore after completing her schooling at Nirmala Girls Higher Secondary School. The ISRO scientist whose voice was behind the several rocket launches at the space centre was a part of the Range Operations Programme Office at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

She served as the project director of RISAT-1, India’s first indigenous-developed radar imaging satellite (RIS) and the country’s second such satellite. RISAT-1 was successfully launched in April 2021.

Valarmathi received the prestigious Abdul Kalam Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu on Independence Day 2015. The 64-year-old woman scientist became the first recipient to receive the award in honour of former president and scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who was known as the "missile man of India" and also passed away in July that year.

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