Meet Sheena Rani, the brains behind India's Agni-5 missile test under 'Mission Divyastra'. India recently celebrated the successful flight test of its homegrown Agni-5 missile, marking a significant milestone in its defense capabilities. Equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, the Agni-5 ensures precise delivery of multiple warheads to various targets.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended their congratulations to the team of scientists, particularly from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for their remarkable achievement.

Sheena Rani, a key figure in this project, served as the program director for Agni-5, while Shankari Chandrasekaran took the role of project director. Rani, stationed at DRDO's Advanced Systems Laboratory, spearheaded the development of Agni-5's MIRV technology.

But who exactly is Sheena Rani?

She led the team responsible for the first-ever test of India's Agni-5 missile with MIRV technology. Rani, aged 57, played a pivotal role as the program director at DRDO's ASL facility in Hyderabad, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Rani boasts specialized knowledge in computer science and holds a degree in electronics and communications engineering. Her journey began at Thiruvananthapuram's College of Engineering, followed by eight years of work at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), India's premier civilian rocketry laboratory.

After the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, Rani joined DRDO through lateral entry in 1999. Since then, she has been actively involved in the Agni missile program, HT reported.

Rani's contributions have earned her accolades, including the prestigious "Scientist of the Year" award in 2016. She draws inspiration from the legendary APJ Abdul Kalam, former DRDO chief and President of India.

Her husband, PSRS Sastry, shares her passion for missile projects and has connections with DRDO. He was involved in the 2019 ISRO-launched Kautilya Satellite, designed for electronic intelligence gathering.

Sheena Rani's journey reflects dedication, expertise, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in India's defense research and development sector.

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