NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover successfully landed on the red planet on Friday, February 19th. It is interesting to note that the American Swati Mohan had practically led the success of the Perseverance landing.
Swati Mohan was the first to confirm that the rover had successfully landed on the Martian surface. “The touchdown has been confirmed,” said the operations led by Dr. Swati around 15.55 Eastern Time (2055 GMT), while control of the mission at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena celebrated the feat.
NASA released a video of the moment showing Dr. Swati wearing a small bindi on his forehead. It soon caught the attention of Desi Twitterati, who absolutely loved the look of the doctor.
The parachute has been deployed. @NASAPersevere is on its way to completing it #CountdownToMars: pic.twitter.com/i29Wb4rYlo
– NASA (@NASA) February 18, 2021
After the image went viral on Twitter, several users praised Dr. Swati, who called her “lady with the bindi.” Some users also shared their stories with the beloved bindi.
– I love how my Twitter channel loves space victories – It’s amazing the diversity of NASA that white boys years in a certain age group. memories of racist / anti-immigrant “dotbusters” are still preserved# Perseverance pic.twitter.com/wo3BRwHJ8w
– Tanvi Madan (@tanvi_madan) February 18, 2021
“Touchdown confirmed” announced @DrSwatiMohan, origin of GN&C operations @NASA‘s # Perseverance landed inside a crater on Mars.
No longer the hidden figure in space, Dr. Swati, “Lady with the Bindi,” has made women proud and inspired to reach Mars. pic.twitter.com/AFZYZzqyrA
– Lakshmi M Puri (@lakshmiunwomen) February 19, 2021
I brought a bindi to primary school until I was old enough to notice and feel aware of people’s comments. True, I still hesitate to post pictures of childhood because of this. Swati Mohan made me smile 🙂 https://t.co/wfmeoYk0Of
– Hema Mullur (@HemaMullur) February 18, 2021
listen. I took a bindi to primary school and received physical harassment for it. that’s doing all sorts of things to me. swati mohan in control of the mission, thank you. #NASAPerseverance
– Anuradha Damale (ulianulikesstars) February 18, 2021
Swati Mohan came to the United States as a child. He spent most of his childhood in the North Virginia-Washington DC subway area. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Cornell University and completed his master’s and doctoral studies at MIT in Aeronautics / Astronautics. Dr. Swati is the Mars 2020 Guidance, Navigation and Controls (GN&C) operations leader.