Dr Suresh Chandra Gupta was a well-known space engineer with pioneering contributions in automatic control, instrumentation and space systems analysis. Dr Gupta had associated with the Indian space programme right from its inception. Born on January 7, 1934, Dr Gupta took BSc degree from Banaras Hindu University and DIISc from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Later he obtained his doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, USA. Back home in 1965, Dr Gupta started his career at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (then SSTC) under Dr Vikram Sarabhai in planning and establishing facilities for research and development in space technology, at Thiruvananthapuram. He was also responsible for the development of control, guidance and instrumentation systems for space vehicles. He provided multi-disciplinary leadership to the satellite launch vehicle projects, leading to the successful development of ASLV and PSLV. He successfully promoted co-operation with the Indian Industry in the production of electronic packages for space programmes. He functioned as Head, Control, Guidance and Instrumentation Division, Group Director, Avionics and Associate Director, VSSC before taking over as Director, VSSC in 1985 and continued in that post till 1994. He was also Member of Space Commission during 1993-94. Dr Gupta was a Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering, Astronautical Society of India and National Academy of Sciences, India. Apart from being a Life Member, he served as the president of the Systems Society of India for 12 years. He was also a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, Paris, and International Programme Committee on Automatic Control in Aerospace under the International Federation on automatic Control (IFAC).

He had been member of several councils and boards like Governing Council of Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Board of Directors, Kerala Hitech Industries Ltd and Chairman of the Governing Body of the Centre for Environment and Development, Thiruvananthapuram. He was Dr Brahm Prakash Distinguished Professor, ISRO from March 1994 to February 1997. Dr Gupta has several honours and awards to his credit. Prominent among them are the National System Award (1975), Shri Hari Om Ashram Perit Dr Vikram Sarabhai Research Award (1979), National Academy of Science Award (1989) and Vasvik Research Award for Electrical Science and Technology (1990), Aryabhata Award of the Astronautical Society of India for life-time contributions (1996), Nominated Man of the Year by the America Biographical Institute Inc, Raleigh, NC, USA (1994,1995,1998 and 2000) for his accomplishments and contributions to the Society and the Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya Jabalpur Appreciation for the outstanding contributions in the design, development and realisation of control system for satellite launch vehicles.