For other people with the same or similar name, see Abdul Majid (disambiguation)
| Abdul Majid | |
|---|---|
| Born | Karachi, Sindh, British Indian Empire |
| Residence | Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory |
| Citizenship | Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Fields | Astrophysics and Space physics |
| Institutions | Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) |
| Alma mater | University of Wales, United Kingdom |
| Doctoral advisor | Dr. George Efstathiou |
| Known for | Satellite Technology and Rocket science |
| Influenced | Wladysław Józef Marian Turowicz |
| Notable awards | Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1999) |
Dr. Abdul Majid (Urdu):(عبد لماجد) is a Pakistani astrophysicist and scientist in the field of space technology. He is a former chairman of Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission from 1997 to 1999.[1] He had made significant contributions to Pakistan's space program. During his tenure as SUPARCO Administrator, Pakistan launched its two Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which were masterminded and developed by him. He also initiated a Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) project at SUPARCO. He retired from SUPARCO in 2001 as a chief scientist. Since his retirement, he has been inactive from Pakistan's space program and currently resides in Karachi where he lives a very quiet life there.
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Abdul Majid was Born in Karachi, Pakistan from where he received his elementary and Intermediate education. He received B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Physics from University of Wales and Ph.D in Astrophysics also from University of Wales.[2]
After his Ph.D, he came back to Pakistan and joined Pakistan's Space Program as a researcher in astrophysics and aeronautical labs. Majid worked under the supervision of noted Pakistani-Polish military scientist and aeronautical engineer, Air Commodore W. J. M. Turowicz, in the field of Rocket Technology and published numerous research papers. He is credited for the design and developed the Hypersonic Rocket Launch Vehicle or Hatf Missiles Series during his stay at SUPARCO.
In 1994, Majid was put in-charge of Satellite Development Program of Pakistan. He is widely credited for the development of Badr-B Earth Observatory Satellite. He was keen to develop Pakistan's Space Launch capabilities and met with both former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto to gain their approval for the project. The project however was not sanctioned due toeconomic constrains.[3]
During his tenure as Chairman of Suparco, his organization saw a major budget cut in Pakitani Space Program. In 1998, Abdul Majid traveled to Russia, where he was able to sign a deal with Russian Federal Space Agency to launch the Pakistani Satellite with a given deadline. According to him, Russians are agree to launch Pakistan's domestically build satellite from there soil. He retired from SUPARCO in 2001.
After a initial success in satellites development, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan met with Dr. Abdul Majid where they discussed Dr. Khan's indegeniously designed Low Earth orbit satellite project. In 1999, Dr. Abdul Majid, as then-Chairman of Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) announed that Pakistan would develop its own satellite launching vehicle within a period of about three years, although no details of this previously undisclosed program were revealed.[4] He also met then-Chief executive of Pakistan, Gen. (r). Pervez Musharaf in the army house. He, along with Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, briefed General Musharaf about the project where Dr. Majid received his green signal. However, the SLV Project's status remains unclear.
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