Context: Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist V R Lalithambika conferred the highest civilian French honour for space cooperation initiatives. 

ISRO Scientist Lalithambika Conferred highest French Civilian Award

• She is the second ISRO scientist after former  ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar (awarded in 2019) to be awarded the Legion d’Honneur of France for promoting Indo-French space cooperation. 
• She has been recognised by France for her role in the signing of the first joint agreement for cooperation between the French National Space Agency (CNES) and the ISRO on human spaceflight in 2018.
  • She was the director of the human space programme.
• She is also credited for coordinating another Indo-French agreement on the Indian astronaut programme in 2021. 

About V R Lalithambika: 

• Dr.V. R. Lalithambika is an Indian engineer and scientist. 
• She joined ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Center in 1988 as a launch vehicle autopilot design engineer.
  • Expanded her sphere of activity to include design and validation activities and flight telemetry data management for ISRO launch vehicle missions.

• Gaganyaan: Her efforts were instrumental for the human spaceflight programme and in the establishment of a human spaceflight center. 
• She has designed the autopilot for the PSLV, the GSLV, the GSLV Mk III.
  • She further led the team in developing guidance and autopilot systems, flight software and validation of navigation, guidance and control systems for all ISRO ascent and re-entry missions.

About Légion d’Honneur:

• The Legion of Honour is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France irrespective of nationalities. 
• It has been in existence for over 200 years since it was created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.

News Source: IE