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Paris
V R Lalithambika, former Director, the Directorate of the Human Spaceflight Program, ISRO, was conferred the top French civilian honour of Légion d’Honneur for her engagement in space cooperation between France and India. The award was given to her by the Ambassador of France to India, Thierry Mathou, on behalf of the French government.
Receiving the award, Lalithambika said, “I sincerely hope that this honor being bestowed on me will spur more and more women to take up STEM careers and to excel in their chosen fields.
A specialist in advanced launch vehicle technology and a distinguished scientist of ISRO, has worked extensively on various ISRO rockets, particularly the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Lgion d’Honneur (the Legion of Honour) is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France.
A specialist in advanced launch vehicle technology, Lalithambika, a distinguished scientist of ISRO, has worked extensively on various ISRO rockets, particularly the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
French Ambassador Mathou said, “I am delighted to confer the Chevalier of the Lgion d’Honneur on Dr VR Lalithambika, a distinguished scientist and a ‘trailblazer in’ space technology. Her expertise, accomplishments, and tireless efforts have scripted a new ambitious chapter in the long history of the Indo-French space partnership.”
