Swati Mohan, An Indian American Leads NASA Mission

Dr. Swati Mohan, an Indian American who emigrated to the U.S from Banglore, India successfully guided the NASA Perseverance rover mission. As the Guidance, Navigation, and Controls (GN&C) Operations Lead, Mohan is the “eyes and ears” of the spacecraft. 

“Touchdown confirmed! Perseverance is safely on the surface of Mars ready to begin seeking the signs of past life,” Mohan is heard saying on NASA’s live stream. Her NASA colleagues were seen applauding and cheering back at home base.

Mohan’s bindi for the Indian community clearly became the winner on Twitter. Many commented on how inspiring it was to see on national TV and around the world.

Dr. Swati Mohan isn’t the only immigrant to bring her expertise to this mission. Colombia-born NASA aerospace engineer, Diana Trujillo currently leads the engineering team at JPL responsible for the robotic arm of the Perseverance rover.

Trujillo hosted NASA’s first-ever Spanish broadcast for the landing. The show was called “Juntos perseveramos,” or, “Together we persevere.” Diana tells PRI.org that she hoped to inspire a new generation of girls and to “continue to take science to everybody in their own languages.”

Diana tweeted her excitement from home as the announcements of the successful mission came through.

These ladies are certainly inspiring young women, new scientists, immigrations and of course, the Indian and Colombian communities around the world.