Chennai, Sept 4: Renowned Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist N. Valarmathi, who lent her voice to the Chandrayaan 3 launch countdown, has passed away due to cardiac arrest. She breathed her last on a Saturday evening in Chennai.
Her last countdown took place on July 14, 2023, during the launch of Chandrayaan 3 from the Satish Dhawan space centre in Sriharikota.
Valarmathi had become an icon of support for the nation during critical rocket launches, thanks to her distinctive voice and unwavering composure. Her contributions to India's space program have left an indelible mark, and she will be fondly remembered for her unwavering dedication and profound expertise in the field.
Condoling her demise, Dr. PV Venkitakrishnan, a former director at ISRO, said on X (formerly Twitter): “The voice of Valarmathi Madam will not be there for the countdowns of future missions of ISRO from Sriharikota. Chandrayaan-3 was her final countdown announcement. An unexpected demise. Feel so sad. Pranams!”
On August 23, the lander module of Chandrayaan 3, consisting of Vikram's lander and the Pragyan rover, successfully made a gentle touchdown on the lunar surface. This historic achievement marked India as the first nation to reach the previously unexplored south pole of Earth's moon.
However, recent updates from ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) indicate that the Pragyan rover on the lunar surface has been temporarily placed in a dormant state as of Saturday. The space agency has plans to revive and reactivate the rover after a period of 14 days.
