| Prof. U. R. Rao | |
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U R Rao
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| Born | 10 March 1932 Adamaru, Udupi, India |
| Residence | India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Fields | Space science and Satellite Technology |
| Institutions | Indian Space Research Organisation Physical Research Laboratory |
| Known for | Indian Space Program |
| Notable awards | Padma Bhushan (1976) |
Udupi Ramachandra Rao, popularly known as U. R. Rao (Tulu: ಉಡುಪಿ ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ ರಾವ್ Kannada: ಉಡುಪಿ ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ ರಾವ್)[1] is a space scientist and former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation. Presently he is the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad, which is considered as the cradle of India's Space Program. Prof Rao was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1976.
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U. R. Rao was born at Adamaru in Karnataka State, India. He had his primary education at Adamaru.
After working as a Faculty Member at MIT and Assistant Professor at University of Texas at Dallas where he carried out investigations as a prime experimenter on a number of Pioneer and Explorer spacecrafts, Prof. Rao returned to India in 1966 as Professor at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.
Prof Rao started his career as a cosmic ray scientist, under the late Dr Vikram Sarabhai, which work he continued at MIT. In association with the JPL Group, he was the first to establish the continuous nature of the solar wind and its effect on geomagnetism using Mariner 2 observations. Prof Rao's experiments on a number of Pioneer and Explorer spacecrafts, led to a complete understanding of the solar cosmic ray phenomena and the electromagnetic state of the interplanetary space. Convinced of the imperative need to use space technology for rapid development, Prof Rao undertook the responsibility for the establishment of satellite technology in India in 1972. Under his guidance, beginning with the first Indian satellite "Aryabhata" in 1975, over 18 satellites including Bhaskara, APPLE, Rohini, INSAT-1 and INSAT-2 series of multipurpose satellites and the sophisticated IRS-1A and 1B remote sensing satellites were designed, fabricated and launched for providing communication, remote sensing and meteorological services.
| Year | Positions held |
|---|---|
| 1988, | Chairman, PRL Council, ISRO-DOS |
| 2005 - | Chairman, Karnataka Science & Technology Academy |
| 2007 - | Additional Director, Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore |
| 2007 - | President, Centre for Space Physics, Kolkata |
| 2006–2011 | Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow |
| 2006–2010 | Member, Central Board of Directors, Reserve Bank of India. |
| 2007 | Chairman, Governing Council of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune |
| 1997 - | Co-Chairman, Governing Council of National Center for Antarctic & Ocean Research, Goa |
| 1981–2001 | Member, Space Commission, Government of India |
| 2001–2002 | Chairman, Prasar Bharati Board |
| 1997–2001 | Member, Prasar Bharati Board |
| 1998–2001 | Member, National Security Advisory Board |
| 1997–2000 | Chairman, United Nations - Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS) |
| 1994–1999 | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor of the Department of Space |
| 1984–1994 | Chairman, Space Commission/Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India & Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) |
| 1975–1984 | Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore |
| 1972–1975 | Project Director, Indian Scientific Satellite Project, Bangalore |
| 1969–1972 | Professor, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad |
| 1966–1969 | Associate Professor, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. |
| 1963–1966 | Asst. Professor at S.W. Centre for Advanced Research, Dallas, Texas |
| 1961–1963 | Post Doctoral Fellow MIT, USA. |
After taking charge as Chairman, Space Commission and Secretary, Department of Space in 1985, Prof Rao accelerated the development of rocket technology, resulting in the successful launch of ASLV rocket in 1992. He was also responsible for the development of the operational PSLV launch vehicle, which successfully launched a 850 kg. satellite into a polar orbit in 1995. Prof Rao initiated the development of the geostationary launch vehicle GSLV and the development of cryogenic technology in 1991. He was responsible for successful launch of INSAT satellites during his stint at ISRO. The launch of INSAT satellites gave a thrust to communications in India, during the 1980s and 1990s. The successful launch of INSAT provided telecommunication links to remote corners of India. During these decades fixed telephone (called as landline) expanded throughout country due to availability of satellite links at different places in the ground. People could talk easily from anywhere by use of STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialing) instead of waiting for hours to get the connection. This development played a key role in future for India to develop as an Information Technology hub. He was the first Chairman of Antrix Corporation.
Prof. Rao has tirelessly worked towards the utilisation of the vast benefits from space technology for the development of India. INSAT's initiated a total communication revolution in India, providing nationwide communication, TV Broadcasting, Developmental Education, Radio-Networking, Multimedia, Meteorological and Disaster Warning Services. Remote sensing satellites are now operationally used for monitoring and management of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, wasteland, underground and surface water, drought and flood. Prof. Rao has been responsible for evolving the highly innovative, integrated sustainable management strategy at micro-level, combining the vital inputs from space with biotechnological advances to achieve sustainable development.
Chairman, Karnataka State Science and Technology / Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Member, Central Board of Directors, Reserve Bank of India, Additional Director, Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Ltd., Bangalore, Chairman of the Governing Council of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune and Co-Chairman of the Governing Council of National Center for Antarctic & Ocean Research, Goa.
Prof Rao has published over 300 scientific and technical papers in various national and international journals covering cosmic rays, interplanetary physics, high energy astronomy, space applications and satellite and rocket technology. He has authored many books, notable amongst which are "Physics of the Communication", "Space and Agenda 21 - Caring for the Planet Earth" and "Space Technology for Sustainable Development".
Prof. Rao is an elected Fellow of many academies such as Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers, International Academy of Astronautics and Third World Academy of Sciences. Prof. Rao was conferred Fellowship of the World Academy of Arts & Sciences. Prof. Rao, was the General President of the Indian Science Congress Association for 1995-96. Prof. Rao, was the Vice President of International Astronautical Federation (IAF) during 1984 to 1992 and continues to be the Chairman of the Committee for Liaison with Developing Countries (CLIODN) since 1986. Prof. Rao was elected as the Chairman of United Nations - Committee On Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS) in June 1997 and also Chairman of UNISPACE-III Conference. Prof. Rao was elected as the Chairman of the 30th International Antarctic Treaty Consultative Committee Meeting at Delhi in April 2007.
Prof. Rao is the recipient of many national and international awards, such as :
A. National Awards
1976 Padma Bhushan (a very high civilian award of Government of India)
1973 Group Achievement Award by NASA, USA 1975 Medal of Honour by Academy of Sciences, USSR 1975 Karnataka Rajyotsava Award 1975 Hari Om Vikram Sarabhai Award 1975 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award 1980 National Design Award 1980 Vasvik Research Award 1983 Karnataka Rajyotsava Award 1987 PC Mahalnobis Medal 1993 Meghnad Saha Medal 1994 P.C. Chandra Puraskar Award 1994 Electronics Man of the Year Award 1995 Om Bhasin Award 1995 Zaheer Hussain Memorial Award 1995 Aryabhata Award 1995 Jawaharhal Nehru Award 1996 SK Mitra Birth Centenary Gold Medal 1997 Yudhvir Foundation Award 1997 Rabindranath Tagore Award of Viswa Bharati University 1999 Gujar Mal Modi Science Foundation Award 2001 Nadoja Award from Kannada University, Hampi 2001 Life Time Contribution Award in Engineering of INAE 2002 Sir M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Award 2003 Press Bureau of India Award 2004 Star of India Award from Vishwabharathy Foundation, Hyderabad 2004 Special Award 2004, Karnataka Media Academy 2007 Life Time Achievement Award of Indian Space Research Organisation 2007 Distinguished Scientist Gold Medal of the Karnataka Science & Technology Academy. 2007 Vishwamanava Award 2008 Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award for 2007-2008 from ISCA 2008 A.V. Rama Rao Technology Award
B. International Awards
1991 Yuri Gagarin Medal of USSR 1992 Allan D Emil Award on International Cooperation 1994 Frank J Malina Award (International Astronautical Federation) 1996 Vikram Sarabhai Medal of COSPAR 1997 Outstanding Book Award of the International Academy of Astronautics for the Book Space Technology for Sustainable Development 2000 Eduard Dolezal Award of ISPRS 2004 The prestigious Space Magazine, Space News has named Prof. U.R. Rao as one of the Top 10 International Space Personalities who have made a substantial difference in civil, commerce and military space in the world since 1989 2005 Theodore Von Karman Award which is the highest Award of the International Academy of Astronautics.
D. Litt. (Hon. Causa) from Kannada University, Hampi
D.Sc (Hons. Causa) from the Universities of:
1976 Mysore 1976 Rahuri 1981 Calcutta 1984 Mangalore 1992 Banaras 1992 Udaipur 1993 Tirupati (SV) 1994 Hyderabad (JN) 1994 Madras (Anna University) 1994 Roorkee University 1995 Punjabi University, Patiala 1997 Shri Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur 1999 Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad 2001 D.Litt. (Hons. Causa) from Kannada University, Hampi 2002 Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut 2005 UP Technical University, Lucknow 2006 Viswesvaraiah Technical University, Belgaum 2007 Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi 1992 University of Bologna (Italy)
1986-1992 Vice President, International Astronautical Federation 1988 to date President, Committee for Liaison with Developing Nations (CLODIN) of IAF 1997-2000 Chairman, UN-COPUOS (United Nations - Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space) 1999 President, UNISPACE-III Conference 2007 Chairman, 30th International Antarctic Treaty Consultative Committee Meeting
Organised Special Plenary Current Event Sessions as a part of International Astronautical Federation Congress
1987 Use of Space Technology for the benefit of Human Kind, at Brighton (IAF) 1988 Space and Drought Management at Bangalore, India (IAF) 1989 Space and Flood Management at Malaga, Spain (IAF) 1990 Space and Forest Management at Dresden, Germany (IAF) 1991 Space and Agriculture Management at Montreal, Canada (IAF) 1992 Space and Developing Countries at Washington, USA (IAF) 1993 Space and Environment at Graz, Austria (IAF) 1994 Space and Rural Development at Jerusalem, Israel (IAF) 1995 Space for Education, Health Care and Environmental Monitoring at Oslo, Norway (IAF) 1996 Population Dynamics and Management of Urban Environment at Beijing, China (IAF) 1997 Space and Industrial Partnership for Rapid Development, Turin, Italy (IAF) 1998 Space in Transitioning Economic Scenario, Melbourne, Australia (IAF) 1999 Space Technology for Sustainable Economic Growth, Amsterdam, Netherlands (IAF) 2000 Space in the Next Millennium – Towards an Equitable Village at Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil (IAF) 2001 Space & Information Technology – From Digital Divide to Digital Bridge at Toulouse, France (IAF) 2002 Director – Summer Design Project on “Space for Enhancing Human Health” for the International Space University at Pomona, California (ISU) 2002 Space Solutions for Global Problems: Building Partnership with All Stakeholders in Human Security and Development at Houstan, USA (IAF) 2003 Space for Enhancement of Carrying Capacity at Bremen, Germany (IAF) 2004 National Disaster Management on a Global Scale” at Vancouver, Canada (IAF) 2005 Space Education and Capacity Building for Sustainable Development at Fukuoka, Japan (IAF) 2006 Use of Space Technology for Water Resource Management at Valencia, Spain (IAF) 2007 Space Technology for Poverty Alleviation at Hyderabad, India (IAF)
· President of UNISPACE III Conference, Vienna in 1979 · Led Indian Delegation in COPUOS and S&T Sub Committee of COPUOS from 1980 to 1994, UNISPACE-II in 1982 and President UNISPACE-III in 2000. · Chairman of the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (1996–1999) · Published over 360 Scientific and Technical papers in various Journals. · Author of three recent Books
In the year 2004, Space News weekly ranked Prof U R Rao among the top ten international personalities who have made a difference in civil, commerce and military space in the world since 1989. He won the Theodore Von Karman Award for 2005 presented by The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).[2]
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by Satish Dhawan |
ISRO Chairman 1984 - 1994 |
Succeeded by K Kasturirangan |
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