Swati Mohan, an Indian-American scientist and aerospace engineer, recently visited Presidency University to interact with next-generation leaders and inspire students with the story of her journey from India’s Bengaluru to the United States and her work at Nasa.
Mohan, who steered the controls and landing system of the Mars rover Perseverance from a Nasa lab three years ago, highlighted the crucial role of gender representation in space exploration. Addressing a session a day earlier at the Birla Industrial and Technological Museum as part of National Science Day celebrations, Mohan applauded the evolving opportunities for women in space research. Her own journey spells hope for aspiring scientists, showcasing the limitless possibilities awaiting those who dare to dream.
Swati Mohan inspires next generation leaders at Presidency University
“Aerospace engineering helps satellites in space, especially those which monitor the earth, provide critical information for learning more about our planet. By observing the earth from above, we can track weather moments, glacier mountaineering and rising sea water. These minute tracking helps us to fix these problems. This information helps us focus better on sustainability. One of the missions I worked on was called OCO-3 and its intent was to measure carbon in different areas. I believe this is the first-hand information the earth needs to start making changes in the long run,” Mohan told My Kolkata.
Mohan's expertise in guidance, navigation, and control operations played a crucial role in Nasa’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission. She expressed optimism about future collaborations between Nasa and the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), praising the latter’s recent accomplishments, including the success of Chandrayaan 3.
During her interaction at Presidency University, Mohan shared her pride in witnessing the victory of Nasa’s Mars 2020 Perseverance mission.
“There are always challenges in any journey, the major question is how you learn from it. I have faced different challenges starting from not being accepted in the school that I wanted to join to someone else taking credit for the work that I had done. I believe each of these works from a different perspective, requiring perseverance which takes energy and investing that energy in yourself is the first step in overcoming challenges,” she added.
Mohan obliges autograph seekers at Presidency University
As Mohan continues to break barriers and cross the boundaries of space research, her visit to Presidency University serves as a reminder of the transformative power of passion, perseverance and inclusivity.
