New Delhi: Close on the heels of Chandrayaan-3 ‘concluding’ its objective, the voice that powered India’s moon mission is no more. N Valarmathi, the scientist at Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO) passed away on Saturday, following a cardiac arrest. The noted scientist has been the iconic voice behind many rocket launch countdowns. Chandryaan-3 spacecraft which blasted off from Sriharikota about two months ago, was her last assignment. The 64-year-old scientist suffered a fatal heart attack in Chennai and passed away. Many of ISRO top scientists mourned her demise and lamented that the iconic voice has been silenced after many memorable missions. Ex-ISRO director PV Venkitakrishnan took to X and wrote, ''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!'' 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! pic.twitter.com/T9cMQkLU6J — Dr. P V Venkitakrishnan (@DrPVVenkitakri1) September 3, 2023 Valarmathi received Abdul Kalam award Ms N Valamarthi was born in Ariyalur town of Tamil Nadu on July 31, 1959. She studied at Nirmala Girls Higher Secondary School before graduating from Government College of Technology in Coimbatore. She joined the country’s premiere space organization in 1984. Over the years, she was part of many ISRO missions. She was the project director of RISAT-1. In year 2015, she became the first person to be felicitated with Abdul Kalama award. Notably, the award was instituted by Tamil Nadu government in honour of India’s ‘Missile Man’ & former scientist. Her untimely demise sent the scientific community into mourning while elicited many poignant messages from netizens. Many people posted tributes for her, saying that her voice will be missed forever in future launches of ISRO.
