NASA Scientist Swati Mohan Ignites Young Minds with Lively Interaction
Around 200 students and science enthusiasts in Chennai gained interesting insights on space science when they were addressed by Dr. Swati Mohan, Mars
Launch System Chief Engineer, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Tuesday, March 5.
In a presentation on “Mars 2020: From Launch to Landing” at an interactive event organized by the U.S. Consulate General Chennai in association with Tamil Nadu Science & Technology Centre (TNSTC) at the Sky Theater in TNSTC premises in Chennai, Dr. Mohan shared
her experience working on NASA’S Mars Mission.
She spoke in detail about the ever-growing space ties between the United States and India, the partnership between NASA and ISRO, and co-engineer interests on
critical and emerging technology (iCET). Tracing her south Indian roots, Dr. Mohan urged students, especially women, to take up space technology as their career.
Dr. Mohan said, ”Diversity in our teams, especially women and under-represented minorities, is becoming increasingly important as we tackle the harder challenges
in space exploration. With passion, purpose, and perseverance, we need you to help us dare mighty things together.”
Swati Mohan emigrated from India to the United States when she was 1 year old and was raised in Northern Virginia / Washington DC metro area.
She completed her B.S from Cornell University in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, and her M.S. and Ph.D from MIT in Aeronautics/Astronautics. She has worked on multiple missions such as Cassini (mission to Saturn) and GRAIL (a pair of formation flown spacecraft to the Moon).
She has worked on Mars 2020 since almost the beginning of the project in 2013.