ISRO scientist N Valarmathi, the voice behind its launch countdowns, dies at 64
Her most recent countdown was during the historic launch of Chandrayaan-3, India’s mission to the lunar south pole.
N. Valarmathi, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist who was the voice behind the countdown for the agency’s rocket launches, passed away on Saturday (September 2) evening. She was 64 years old.
She reportedly died after a cardiac arrest in Chennai.
Valarmathi’s most recent countdown was during the historic launch of Chandrayaan-3, India’s mission to the lunar south pole.
A former ISRO Director Dr PV Venkitakrishnan expressed his grief at her death on X. ''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!'' said his post. She reportedly died after a cardiac arrest in Chennai on Saturday evening (September
Valarmathi did her schooling in her native town of Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu, and completed her engineering degree from the Government College of Technology in Coimbatore.
She joined the space agency in 1984, and was involved in several missions. She was the project director of RISAT-1, the country’s first indigenously-developed radar imaging satellite.
She had the honour of being the first person to receive the Abdul Kalam Award from the Tamil Nadu govt in 2015.
Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar wrote a condolence message on X, “Saddened to hear about the passing away of N Valarmathi ji, the voice behind many @isro launch countdowns, including Chandrayaan 3. My condolences to her family and friends. Om Shanti.”
There were many other condolence messages on social media paying tribute to her and calling her a true inspiration to many, with one saying that she would be remembered always in the iconic moments of Indian space accomplishments.
