Collaboration for a Better Planet

Sanghamitra Dutta (left) at a Youth Circle Dialogue on Peace and Space Exploration at the American Center New Delhi. (Photograph by Rakesh Malhotra)

Sanghamitra Dutta is a member of the project management team for NISAR—a joint Earth-observing mission by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). She has been working with NASA for over three decades and now serves as the program executive in the Earth Science division at Science Mission Directorate, NASA HQ at Washington, D.C.

Dutta visited India in January 2024 on a U.S. State Department-sponsored trip and engaged with school students in the National Capital Region. On an earlier visit, in November 2023, she held a masterclass on “Doing Good for Mankind-The NASA Way” at the American Center New Delhi.

She spoke to SPAN about the NISAR project, opportunities in space science as a career, U.S.-India collaborations and her experiences at NASA.

Excerpts from the interview.

Please tell us about the NISAR project.

I am excited about the NISAR project and have been involved with it since its early conceptual phase. We have successfully completed the design and development work and are now in the final stages of integration and testing. Our ultimate goal is to launch the satellite and gather valuable scientific data from it. We will distribute the data to the science community, which will analyze it and use it for societal benefit. As we approach the launch, my excitement continues to grow.

NISAR will provide us with comprehensive insights into changes occurring on the Earth’s surface, sea levels, and ice coverage, utilizing its remarkable sensitivity. Understanding these changes will help us understand the root cause of many issues related to climate change and natural disasters. We can then leverage this understanding and effectively influence policymakers and make the planet a better place to live for our future generations.

What would you say about U.S.-India collaborations in space science? What are the opportunities to take them to the next level?

This is the first large collaboration between NASA and ISRO, and it is progressing very well.

We are going to use the lessons learned from this collaboration to ensure that future collaborations proceed even more smoothly. Over the course of more than 10 years working together on NISAR, we have learned from each other what works best and how to optimize the partnership for mutual benefit. We all have limited budgets. So, the more we collaborate in areas of mutual interest, the better we can use our resources to achieve our respective goals successfully.

When did you realize that you had an interest in space science and what inspired you to take it up as a career?

I was born in India and grew up in Kolkata. My elder brother was studying science, which may have influenced my interests. The Moon landing was a significant event during my school years and served as an early inspiration for me to pursue a career in space science.

Please tell us about your experiences at NASA.

My entry into NASA was coincidental. After finishing my higher studies in the United States, I began teaching at a university and wanted to find a job in the same city as my husband. Consequently, we moved to the Washington, D.C., area, and I searched for jobs in national laboratories. Fortunately, NASA presented itself with promising opportunities that aligned well with my background and interests.

I have been working at NASA for 30 years in different capacities. I worked on technology development for different space science programs and managed the development of two new technologies for the James Webb Space Telescope project. Later, I moved from pure science and technology development to technical management and took on a leadership role.

Please tell us about your masterclass, “Doing Good for Mankind-The NASA Way,” at the American Center New Delhi.

I have come a long way in my career, and I’m eager to share my story with students in India to inspire them to pursue careers in science, technology, or space programs. I want them to understand that it is not as daunting as it may seem, anybody can achieve it with determination and hard work.

I also wanted to emphasize the importance of doing good, sharing happiness and helping others. It comes from my experience of what we do at NASA. If you can use your knowledge and experience to do good for humankind, it brings you a different level of satisfaction.

What would you say to young girls and women who want to pursue a career in space science or STEM fields?

I would strongly encourage them to go for it. Now we see so many girls and women in science and technology education. Many female engineers work with ISRO. That is inspiring and encouraging.

NASA has long been committed to encouraging girls’ participation in STEM education, offering numerous programs to support and empower them. Earlier, pictures of female scientists were somewhat nerdy. But now the image of a woman scientist or engineer is changing. With such positive changes and abundance of role models, I am confident that young girls will feel inspired and empowered to pursue their passions in STEM.

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