New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the successful test of Bharat’s indigenous missile Agni-5 with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology yesterday. The mission named ‘Mission Divyastra,’ marks a significant step towards self-reliance and enhances Bharat’s prestige.
“Proud of our DRDO scientists for Mission Divyastra, the first flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sheena Rani, Associate Director at DRDO’s Advanced Systems Laboratory, led ‘Mission Divyastra’ at the DRDO headquarters in Hyderabad, highlighting women’s empowerment in the country. Since 1999, Sheena Rani has held various positions at DRDO’s Advanced Systems Laboratory, overseeing the Agni program.
Today, Sheena Rani is honoured as ‘Divya Putri’ for her contributions to ‘Mission Divyastra’ Agni-5. Sheena Rani follows in the illustrious footsteps of Bharat’s legendary missile technologist ‘Agni Putri’ Dr. Tessy Thomas, who played a key role in the development of the Agni series of missiles.
“I am a proud member of the DRDO fraternity that helps protect India,” she asserts.
Dr. Tessy Thomas, former head of Aeronautical Systems at DRDO, who had been leading the Agni project until last year, said the successful flight test of the missile was a proud moment for the country.
Government sources revealed that the DRDO development team for the MIRV-equipped Agni-5 missile was headed by a woman, showcasing women’s empowerment in the country.
Sheena Rani, known as a ‘powerhouse of energy,’ is a scientist at DRDO’s Advanced Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad. Sheena Rani earned her Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, with expertise in Computer Science, from the College of Engineering in Thiruvananthapuram. She worked for eight years at India’s foremost civilian rocketry lab, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC).
Sheena Rani also contributed to the Pokhran Nuclear test. After the Pokhran Nuclear test of 1998, she joined DRDO. Since 1999, Sheena Rani has been working on the launch control systems for the entire Agni series of missiles.
Sheena Rani draws inspiration and motivation from India’s ‘Missile Man,’ former President of India and former head of DRDO, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Interestingly, she mirrors Dr. Kalam’s career path, as he also began his career at ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Center and later moved to DRDO to lead the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.
Her husband, PSRS Sastry, also worked with DRDO on missiles and was in charge of the Kautilya Satellite launched by ISRO in 2019.
The DRDO confirmed the first successful flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology. The flight test, named ‘Mission Divyastra,’ was conducted from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.
With this achievement, India joins the list of countries like the US, UK, Russia, France, and China that possess MIRV technology, making it the sixth country to have MIRV-capable missiles.
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