The conversation
Path to the Stars: Nandini Harinath on India's Space Expansion
Rocket scientist and spacecraft operations head Nandini Harinath discusses her transition from a childhood inspired by Star Trek to engineering some of India's most complex space triumphs. She breaks down the technical feats of the Spacecraft Reentry Experiment and the advanced radar imaging of RISAT-2B, the importance of representation for women in STEM, and why the next frontier of deep space discovery relies entirely on massive international collaborations with NASA and JAXA.
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With over 29 years of experience at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Nandini Harinath has played a pivotal role in more than 25 satellite missions. She served as the Deputy Operations Director for the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), India’s first interplanetary mission, and currently oversees spacecraft operations at ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and Command Network. Her contributions have cemented India’s position as a formidable force in global space exploration.
Despite her impressive career, Harinath’s journey into space science wasn’t something she planned.
Nandini Harinath
ISRO was my first job, and I went there without any prior background in space technology.
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Growing up, her father, an engineer, and her mother, a mathematician, cultivated her love for science.
Nandini Harinath
My father would take us to the terrace, and we would identify the pole star and different constellations. As a family, all of us would sit together and watch… it would just let your imagination go.
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However, it was Star Trek that truly fueled her fascination with space.
When she joined ISRO, there were very few women in the field, making her journey both unique and challenging. Starting in the Mission Planning and Analysis Division, she worked on orbit design and mission requirements. Over the years, she gained hands-on experience and became a key figure in India’s space program.
One of the most defining moments of her career was the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan).
Nandini Harinath
None of us had worked on an interplanetary mission before… it was starting from scratch. It was a long journey, but it was a great experience and a great learning.
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The mission required an entirely new approach to navigation, planning, and execution. The success of Mangalyaan placed India in the global spotlight, proving that ISRO could execute complex, cost-effective deep space missions.
While Mangalyaan gained international recognition, Harinath’s personal favorite mission came earlier in her career—the Spacecraft Reentry Experiment.
Nandini Harinath
ISRO was sending a satellite into space for the first time, and we had to recover it intact after thirteen days. Even though you do a zillion simulations on the ground, the experience of an on-orbit mission is totally different. That will always be my most favorite mission because we were doing something very, very different.
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Despite the difficulties, the team succeeded on their first attempt.
Harinath also led the RISAT-2B project, India’s first high-resolution radar imaging satellite.
Nandini Harinath
We’re able to see objects as small as 30 centimeters from space. Since it was the first time we were operating such an advanced satellite, the ground segment was equally important. We had to ensure rapid data processing to quickly turn around images.
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Unlike optical cameras, which rely on daylight, these satellites can capture images around the clock.
Having worked on high-stakes missions, Harinath believes leadership is about trust.
Nandini Harinath
The biggest quality a leader can have is to keep the team aligned to the mission goals. With that, any difficult challenge seems easy.
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This philosophy was crucial in projects like Chandrayaan-3, where teamwork and perseverance played key roles in India's lunar exploration success.
A strong advocate for women in STEM, Harinath understands the importance of representation.
Nandini Harinath
Young girls shouldn’t think that gender is ever a limitation. When they see women in leadership roles, it inspires them to dream big.
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She believes that telling more stories about women in space will encourage younger generations to pursue careers in science.
Looking ahead, she sees ISRO expanding global collaborations.
Nandini Harinath
We’re doing some big missions with NASA. Half the satellite is built by NASA, and half is built by ISRO. The way forward for any space agency now is to collaborate—big missions are going to be difficult to do alone.
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Similar partnerships are underway with JAXA for a lunar mission, as well as international collaborations in satellite ground operations.
For Harinath, success isn’t just about personal achievements.
Nandini Harinath
Success is like climbing a mountain—it’s about enjoying the view on the way and lifting others along with you.
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Her advice to young professionals?
Nandini Harinath
Be kind to yourself. All of us are doing much better than we think.
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She believes setbacks are part of the journey, describing success as the ability to turn setbacks into comebacks. Most importantly, she encourages aspiring scientists to embrace every moment of the process.
Nandini Harinath
It’s okay to fail sometimes because you will have spectacular stories to tell later.