Udupi Ramachandra Rao

Udupi Ramachandra Rao, popularly known as U. R.

Rao [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 and chancellor of Indian Institute for Space Science and Technology (IIST)
at Thiruvananthapuram.

association with the JPL Group, he was the rst to establish the continuous nature of the solar wind and its eect
on geomagnetism using Mariner 2 observations. Raos
experiments on a number of Pioneer and Explorer spacecraft 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, Rao undertook
the responsibility for the establishment of satellite technology in India in 1972.[7] Under his guidance, beginning
with the rst Indian satellite Aryabhata in 1975, over 18
satellites including Bhaskara, APPLE, Rohini, INSAT1 and INSAT-2 series of multipurpose satellites and the
IRS-1A and IRS-1B remote sensing satellites were designed, fabricated and launched for providing communication, remote sensing and meteorological services.

Rao was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1976. He was inducted into the Satellite
Hall of Fame, Washington on March 19, 2013 at a ceremony organised by the Society of Satellite Professionals
International. With this he became the rst Indian to be
inducted.[2][3] He is also to be inducted in International
Astronautics Federation (IAF) as on 15th May 2016. He
is also the rst Indian again to achieve such a feat.[4]

Early life

4 As Chairman of ISRO

U. R. Rao was born at Adamaru in Karnataka State, India. His parents were Lakshminarayana Acharya and
Krishnaveni Amma. He had his primary education at
Adamaru. He completed his secondary education from
Christian High School, Udupi. He completed his B.Sc in
Government Arts and Science College, Anantpur, M.Sc
from Banaras Hindu University and Ph.D at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad under the guidance of
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.[5]

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 spacecraft, Rao returned
to India in 1966 as a professor at the Physical Research
Laboratory, Ahmedabad.

After taking charge as Chairman, Space Commission and

Secretary, Department of Space in 1985, Rao accelerated the development of rocket technology [8] 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
an 850 kg. satellite into a polar orbit in 1995. 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 xed telephone (called as
landline) expanded throughout country due to availability
of satellite links at dierent 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 rst Chairman of Antrix Corporation.
he received Padma bhushana in 1976.

5 Additional responsibilities

Education
Ph.D. Gujarat University, India, 1960
M.Sc. - Banaras Hindu University, India, 1954
B.Sc. - Madras University, India, 1952[6]

Career

Rao started his career as a cosmic ray scientist, under Chairman, Karnataka State Science and Technology,
Dr.Vikram Sarabhai, which work he continued at MIT. In Chairman, Bangalore Association of Science Education1

JNP, 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.
Rao has published over 300 scientic and technical papers in various national and international journals covering cosmic rays, interplanetary physics, high energy astrophysics, space applications and satellite and rocket technology. He has authored many books, including Physics
of the Communication, Space and Agenda 21 - Caring
for the Planet Earth and Space Technology for Sustainable Development.

AWARDS

1983 Karnataka Rajyotsava Award

1987 PC Mahalnobis Medal
1993 Om Prakash Bhasin Award in the Energy &
Aerospace eld[16]
1993 Meghnad Saha Medal
1994 P.C. Chandra Puraskar Award
1994 Electronics Man of the Year Award by
ELCINA[17]
1995 Zaheer Hussain Memorial Award
1995 Aryabhata Award

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. Rao was conferred Fellowship
of the World Academy of Arts & Sciences. He was
the General President of the Indian Science Congress
Association for 1995-96. 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. 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. He was
elected as the Chairman of the 30th International Antarctic Treaty Consultative Committee Meeting at Delhi in
April 2007.

1995 Jawaharhal Nehru Award

He is the Co-Chairman of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa.[9] He was the rst chairman
of Prasar Bharati.[10]

2004 Star of India Award from Vishwabharathy

Foundation, Hyderabad

2005 Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi Outstanding Leadership Award[21]

Awards

He is the recipient of many national and international

awards, such as :[11][12]
National Awards
1975 Karnataka Rajyotsava Award
1975 Hari Om Vikram Sarabhai Award
1975 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in the Space
science & technology eld[13]
1976 Padma Bhushan[14]
1980 National Design Award
1980 Vasvik Research Award in the Electronic Sciences & Technology eld[15]

1996 SK Mitra Birth Centenary Gold Medal

1997 Yudhvir Foundation Award[18]
1997 Rabindranath Tagore Award of Viswa Bharati
University
1999 Gujar Mal Modi Award for Science &
Technology[19]
2001 Nadoja Award from Kannada University,
Hampi
2001 Life Time Contribution Award in Engineering
of INAE[20]
2002 Sir M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Award
2003 Press Bureau of India Award

2004 Special Award 2004, Karnataka Media

Academy[10]

2007 Life Time Achievement Award of Indian

Space Research Organisation
2007 Distinguished Scientist Gold Medal of the
Karnataka Science & Technology Academy.
2007 Vishwamanava Award by Vishwamanava
Samsthe[22]
2007 A.V. Rama Rao Technology Award[23]
2008 Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award for
2007-2008 from ISCA
International Awards
1973 Group Achievement Award by NASA, USA

3
1975 Medal of Honour by Academy of Sciences,
USSR

2001 D.Litt. (Hons. Causa) from Kannada University, Hampi

1991 Yuri Gagarin Medal of USSR[24]

2002 Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut

1992 Allan D Emil Award on International Cooperation

2005 UP Technical University, Lucknow

1994 Frank J Malina Award (International Astronautical Federation)[24]

1996 Vikram Sarabhai Medal of COSPAR[24]
1997 Outstanding Book Award of the International
Academy of Astronautics for the Book Space Technology for Sustainable Development

2006 Viswesvaraiah Technical University, Belgaum

2007 Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi

8 Fellowships / Memberships
Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences

2000 Eduard Dolezal Award of ISPRS

Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy

2004 Space News magazine named him as one of

the Top 10 International personalities who have
made a substantial dierence in civil, commerce and
military space in the world since 1989[25]

Fellow of National Science Academy

2005 Theodore Von Karman Award which is the

highest Award of the International Academy of Astronautics.

Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering

2013 Inducted into Satellite Hall of Fame by Society

of Satellite Professionals International' [2][3][4]

Hon. Fellow of the Aeronautical Society

Honours

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 University of Bologna (Italy)

Fellow of Third World Academy of Sciences

Fellow of the International Academy of Astronautics

Fellow of the Astronautical Society of India

Distinguished Fellow Institution of Electronics and

Telecommunication Engineers
Hon. Fellow of Indian National Cartographic Association
Fellow of Broadcasting and Engineering Society of
India
Hon. Fellow Aero Medical Society of India
Distinguished Fellow of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad
Fellow of World Academy of Arts & Sciences,
USA.
Fellow of International Aeronautical Federation
(IAF) proposed.

1992 Banaras
1992 Udaipur
1993 Tirupati (SV)
1994 Hyderabad (JN)
1994 Madras (Anna University)
1994 Roorkee University
1995 Punjabi University, Patiala

9 Professional Activities in International Arena

1986-1992 Vice President, International Astronautical Federation
1988 to date President, Committee for Liaison with
Developing Nations (CLODIN) of IAF

1997 Shri Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur

1997-2000 Chairman, UN-COPUOS (United Nations - Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space)

1999 Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad

1999 President, UNISPACE-III Conference

12
2007 Chairman, 30th International Antarctic Treaty
Consultative Committee Meeting

Other roles
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 UNISPACEIII in 2000.
Chairman of the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses
of Outer Space (19961999)

10

Books authored

U. R. Rao, K. Kasturirangan, K. R. Sridhara Murthi.

and Surendra Pal (Editors), Perspectives in Communications, World Scientic (1987). ISBN 9789971-978-76-1
U. R. Rao, Space and Agenda 21 - Caring for
Planet Earth, Prism Books Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
(1995).
U. R. Rao, Space Technology for Sustainable Development, Tata McGraw-Hill Pub., New Delhi
(1996)

11

References

[1] DD to improve quality of programmes

[2] U.R. Rao inducted into Satellite Hall of Fame. The
Hindu. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
[3] SSPI Announces the 2013 Satellite Hall of Fame Inductees. Society of Satellite Professionals International.
Retrieved 2013-02-25.
[4] Prof U R Rao inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame,
Washington (Press release). http://www.isro.org/. 28
March 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013. External link in
|publisher= (help)
[5] Prof. U. R. Rao was married to Mrs. Yashoda Rao.
Indias Pioneer Space Scientist Professor Udupi Ramachandra Rao. karnataka.com. 2011-11-17. Retrieved
2013-02-25.
[6] Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao - Biodata. ISRO. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
[7] Indian Fellow. Indian National Science Academy. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
[8] http://www.isro.org/Ourchairman/former/urrao_
introduction.aspx

EXTERNAL LINKS

[9] Morale of space scientists hit, says U.R. Rao. The

Hindu. Bangalore, India. 28 January 2012.
[10] Space scientist gets Media Academy award. The Hindu.
Bangalore, India. 27 November 2004.
[11] Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao - Awards Honours.
ISRO. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
[12] PANDIT GOVIND BALLABH PANT MEMORIAL
LECTURE - IV (PDF). Govind Ballabh Pant Institute
of Himalayan Environment and Development. Retrieved
21 June 2013.
[13] Handbook of SHANTI SWARUP BHATNAGAR Prize
winners(1958 - 1998)" (PDF). HUMAN RESOURCE
DEVELOPMENT GROUP - COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH. 1999. Retrieved
21 June 2013.
[14] Padma Awards (PDF). Ministry of Home Aairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
[15] Award winners - Electronic Sciences & Technology.
Vasvik Foundation. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
[16] SHRI OM PRAKASH BHASIN AWARDS. Om
Prakash Bhasin Foundation. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
[17] Past Award Winners. Electronic Industries Association
of India. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
[18] Narendra Rai bags Yudhvir award. The Hindu. Hyderabad, India. 28 April 2004.
[19] Gujar Mal Modi Award for Science & Technology. International Institute of Fine Arts. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
[20] LIFE TIME CONTRIBUTION AWARD IN ENGINEERING. Indian National Academy of Engineering.
Retrieved 21 June 2013.
[21] Scientists exhorted to have social sensitivity. The Hindu.
Tirupati, India. 24 September 2005.
[22] Award for U R Rao. Deccan Herald. Bangalore, India.
25 December 2007.
[23] Award for U.R. Rao. The Hindu. Bangalore, India. 17
April 2008.
[24] PROFESSOR U.R.RAO IS TO PRESIDE OVER THE
PLENARY SESSIONS OF UNISPACE III. UNISPACE III - United Nations. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
[25] U.R. Rao among 'top 10 personalities". The Hindu.
Chennai, India. 1 September 2004.

12 External links
Interview with Astrotalkuk.org ISRO the Early
Years August 2013

13
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