Interviewrd by Meher Wan

Nigar Shaji, an accomplished Indian space scientist of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Hailing from Sengottai, a small town in Tamil Nadu, her journey from modest beginnings to the forefront of India’s space exploration exemplifies the transformative power of education and ambition. A graduate in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the Government College of Engineering, Tirunelveli, and later a postgraduate in Electronics from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Nigar Shaji joined ISRO in 1987.

Over the decades, she has played a crucial role in numerous satellite missions, steadily rising through the ranks with her technical acumen and leadership skills. Her most celebrated achievement is her role as the Project Director of Aditya-L1, India’s first dedicated solar mission. Under her guidance, the mission was successfully launched on 2 September 2023, marking a significant milestone in India’s space journey by…read more on NOPR