Dr. Hasheema’s journey is not an ordinary one. It is a story of a polar star breaking through obstacles. Those eyes that stood on the streets of Lucknow in 1957 and saw the ‘Sputnik’ satellite moving in the sky.. No one would have imagined that a few years later, they would reveal the same space secrets to the world. Dr. Hasheema Hasan, who has risen to the highest level in the American space research organization NASA and is directing projects like the ‘James Webb Space Telescope’, has a wonderful journey that every Indian can be proud of.
From Lucknow to NASA
Lucknow is the historical city of Uttar Pradesh. Hasheema Hasan was born in a middle-class family in that city, which is the home of Ganga and Jamuna Tehzeebka. At that time, it was an adventure for girls to study, and that too to choose difficult subjects like science. But, Hashmi’s grandfather recognized the Jizzah and Sanu in her. He would patiently answer her questions while looking at the stars in the sky. In 1957, when the Russian satellite Sputnik moved like a bright dot in the night sky, she saw it from the terrace of her house, “How did that bright dot get there? What is there?” A strong seed was planted in Hasheema’s mind.
PhD at Oxford University
Dr. Hasheema After completing her degree from Lucknow University, Hasheema did her Masters in Physics from Aligarh Muslim University. There she was awarded a gold medal for her talent. However, her goal was even bigger. With the desire to do deep research in physics, she joined the prestigious ‘Tata Institute of Fundamental Research’. After that, she got the opportunity to do a PhD in the University of Oxford. Her research in nuclear physics was recognized internationally. At that time, going abroad and conducting research posed many social challenges for her as a woman. But nothing stood in the way of her goal.
‘Mission Critical’ Responsibilities at NASA
Joining NASA in 1994 was a big turning point in Hasheema’s life. At that time, NASA’s prestigious ‘Hubble Space Telescope’ was facing a big problem. Due to the poor eyesight of the telescope, the images it sent were blurry. At that time, Hasheema entered the field as an ‘Optical Telescope Assembly Scientist’. With the software that corrected the telescope’s errors and the talent to correct the lens errors, the Hubble Telescope started sending clear images. More information about Dr. Hasheema is available on the Internet.
Hunting for the Mysteries of the Universe
Hasheema is currently serving as a senior scientist at NASA Headquarters. In particular, he is acting as the deputy program scientist for the ‘James Webb Space Telescope’ project, the most powerful in human history. Hasheema’s role is crucial in this great mission to understand how the universe was billions of years ago. It is a matter of pride for all of us that an Indian woman scientist has taken key decisions in this project that studies the birth of stars and the formation of planets in the infinite universe. Please read other posts as well
Hasheema is not limited to the laboratory alone. She oversees many educational programs at NASA. She is constantly working to remove the fear of science and increase the thirst for research in children, especially girls. “To become a scientist, perseverance and interest are more important than intelligence,” she always says. Even though she moved to America from her mother land, India, she always respects her roots. She is always eager to interact with Indian scientists and students. The many awards and rewards she has received from NASA indicate her hard work.