Whether it is sports, space science or innovation, Indian women have always proved their mettle. In this continuation, here comes another proud moment for the country as Indian-origin space scientist Vandana Verma—also known as Vandi and hails from Halwara (Punjab)—played a crucial role in NASA’s Mars mission. She is holding the responsibility of driving the Mars rovers which is very important aspect of the mission.
She is the Chief Engineer for robot operations for the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover.
Vandi is playing the role of Assistant Section Manger for Mobility and Robotics Systems at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She has become renowned name in the space industry for her contribution as space scientist at NASA. Apart from this, it is pertinent to mention that she has also worked on developing flight and flight stimulation software systems used in perseverance.
Vandi was brilliant in studies and had graduated from Punjab Engineering College (PEC) in 1994 in electrical stream while another alumna of PEC, Kavita Kaur who worked on Mars mission 2020 in various capacities including ground data system and GDS integration and test engineer had completed her degree in 1995. Verma has been working with US space agency NASA after completing her PHD in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University since 2008. She has been driving rovers on Mars and operating the robotic arm and sampling system as a rover planner.
It is worth mentioning that NASA’s perseverance rover landed on Mars on Feb 18, 2021 and is searching for the signs of past life on red planet. Vandi’s sister is working as a professor of English language in SD college, Chandigarh while her father V.K. Verma was a pilot in the Indian Air Force and fought the battle in 1971 against Pakistan in which he was honoured for. She has twins and presently is living in US.
“She has been a brilliant student which led her to become a space scientist and from the very beginning, Vandi had quest for the same” said Prof Archana, sister of Vandana. She added that Vandi has made every Indian feel proud. Besides she has set an inspirational example for forthcoming generations.
Vandi has played a key role in preparing software for rover. PEC will honour her for her achievements on its birth centenary. She has received a string of awards such as NASA honors awards and two MSL awards since 2008. Vandi is one of the co-writers of PLEXIL, an open source programming language which is now being used in many automation technologies and other spheres of NASA.