Bannihatti (BP) Parameshwarappa Dakshayani is the former group director of the Flight Dynamics and Space Navigation groups of the Indian Space Research Organisation Satellite Centre.
BP Dakshayani | |
|---|---|
| Bannihatti Parameshwarappa | |
| Alma mater | University of Mysore |
| Known for | Mars Orbiter Mission |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Indian Space Research Organisation Satellite Centre Sir Vishveshwaraiah Institute of Science & Technology |
Early life and education
editDakshayani was born and raised in Bhadravati, Karnataka.[1] She was encouraged to study engineering by her father, but he thought a bachelor's degree would be sufficient.[1] She studied mathematics at the University of Mysore and earned a master's degree in 1981.[1] After graduating she worked at Sir Vishveshwaraiah Institute of Science & Technology teaching maths.[1] In 1998 she completed a Masters in Aerospace Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science.
Career
editDakshayani was appointed to the Indian Space Research Organisation Satellite Centre in 1984.[1] She was assigned to computer programming and orbital dynamics.[1] She had never seen a computer when she applied, so had to teach herself during the evenings.[1] The software she designed for trajectory generation was used in several space missions.[1]
She was made director for the Flight Dynamics and Space Navigation groups.[2][3] Around 27% of the staff involved with the development and design of satellites were women.[3] She was responsible for the low earth, geosynchronous orbit and interplanetary missions of the Indian Space Research Organisation Satellite Centre. She was project manager for the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment and deputy project manager for the Mars Orbiter Mission.[4] After completing an analysis of orbit stability, she identified that a highly eccentric orbit would provide better position accuracy.[5][6] She won an Indian Space Research Organisation Satellite Centre merit award for her Mars Orbiter Mission.[4] The mission entered the desired Martian orbit in September 2014.[7] In 2018 she appeared on the BBC World Service show My Indian Life with Kalki Koechlin.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Pandey, Geeta (2 September 2018). "How to cook curry and get a spacecraft into Mars orbit". BBC News. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ "Interaction with ISRO women scientists". The Hindu. 18 August 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Dedication and hard work are always rewarded: Isro women - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ a b "B.P. Dakshayani - WEF". WEF. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ "Orbital Dynamics - Part 1" (PDF). International Astronautical Congress. 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ "IAC Archive — IAC-13/C1/5/4". iafastro.directory. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ B S, Kiran. "Mission Design, Operations & Optimization" (PDF). International Astronautical Congress. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ "BBC World Service - Rocket Woman". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2018.