Valarmathi, the voice behind the Chandrayaan 3 countdown, passed away. Valarmathi, an ISRO scientist and the voice of many countdowns for rocket launches in Sriharikota including Chandrayaan 3, passed away on Saturday due to cardiac arrest at the 64, according to the national space agency’s PRO.
Valarmathi’s last countdown for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was the Chandrayaan 3 mission where India made history by becoming the first nation to land a spacecraft, Chandrayaan-3, near the south pole of the moon. The agency further stated that the scientist was a part of the Range Operations Programme Office at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre where she used to announce the countdown on all launches.
“The voice of Valarmathi Madam will not be there for future missions of ISRO from Sriharikotta. Chandrayan 3 was her final countdown announcement. An unexpected demise. Feel so sad. Pranams!” said Dr. P V Venkitakrishnan, former ISRO director on social media platform ‘X.’
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, union minister for electronics and technology also offered condolences.
“Saddened to hear about the passing of N Valarmathi ji, the voice behind many @isro launch countdowns, including Chandrayaan 3. My condolences to her family and friends. Om Shanti,” said the Minister on ‘X.’