Prof U R Rao




Prof U R Rao
Prof U R Rao was an internationally renowned space scientist who had made original contributions to the development of space technology in India and its extensive application to communications and remote sensing of natural resources. 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. 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 were designed and launched for providing communication, remote sensing and meteorological services. After taking charge as Chairman, Space Commission and Secretary, Department of Space in 1984, Prof. Rao accelerated the development of rocket technology, resulting in the successful launch of ASLV rocket and the operational PSLV launch vehicle, which can launch 2.0 ton class of satellites into polar orbit. Prof. Rao initiated the development of the geostationary launch vehicle GSLV and the development of cryogenic technology in 1991. Prof Rao has published over 350 scientific and technical papers covering cosmic rays, interplanetary physics, high energy astronomy, space applications and satellite and rocket technology and authored many books.He is also the recipient of D.Sc. (Hon. Causa) Degree from over 21 Universities including University of Bologna, the oldest University in Europe. He was an internationally renowned space scientist who had made original contributions to the development of space technology in India and its extensive application to communications and remote sensing of natural resources.


  Bachelor of Sciences from Madras University, India, 1951,

  MS from Banaras Hindu University, India 1953

  Ph.D. from Gujarat University, India1960

  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 ShriShahuJiMaharaj 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)

  Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences

  Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy

  Fellow of National Science Academy

  Fellow of Third World Academy of Sciences

  Fellow of the International Academy of Astronautics

  Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering

  Fellow of the Astronautical Society of India.

  Hon. Fellow of the Aeronautical Society.

  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.

  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

• 1988

  - Chairman, PRL Council, ISRO-DOS.

• 2005

  Chairman, Karnataka Science & Technology Academy

• 2007

  Additional Director, Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore

   Chairman, Governing Council of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune

   President, Centre for Space Physics, Kolkata

• 2006 - 2011

  Chancellor, BabasahebBhimraoAmbedkarUnversity, Lucknow

• 2006 - 2010

  Member, Central Board of Directors, Reserve Bank of India.

• 1997

  Co-Chairman, Governing Council of National Center for Antarctic & Ocean Research, Goa

  2001 Member, PrasarBharati Board

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

• 1984 - 1994

  Chairman, Space Commission/Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India & Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Bangalore.

• 1981 - 2001

  Member, Space Commission, Government of India

• 2001 - 2002

  Chairman, PrasarBharati Board

• 1997 - 2001

  Member, PrasarBharati Board

• 1998 - 2001

  Member, National Security Advisory Board

• 1997 - 2000

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

• 1975 - 1984

  Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore

• 1975 - 1984

  Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor of the Department of Space

• 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 DoctoralFellow MIT, USA

  Padma Vibhushan (1976).

  "Perspectives in Communications" (1987), World Scientific Pub. Co. Pvt.Ltd.

   "Space and Agenda 21 - Caring for Planet Earth" (1995) Prism Books Pvt Ltd (Bangalore).

  "Space Technology for Sustainable Development" (1996) - Tata McCraw Hill Pub., New Delhi

   "MP Birla Memorial Award 2009" from MP Birla Institute of Fundamental Research at Kolkata (July 4, 2009)

  "Bhu Ratna" Award from the Soil Conservation Society of India at the National Conference on "Challenges and Opportunities of Bioindustrial Watershed Development for the Prosperity of the Farming Community" at the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bangalore (June 25, 2009).

  "Bhu Ratna" Award from the Soil Conservation Society of India at the National Conference on "Challenges and Opportunities of Bioindustrial Watershed Development for the Prosperity of the Farming Community" at the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bangalore (June 25, 2009).

  "Mohamed Abdu Rahiman Sahib National Award" from Mohamed Abdu Rahman Sahib Foundation, Kodungallur, Thrissur (June 19, 2009).

  " Lakshmipat Singhania - IIM, Lucknow National Leadership Award 2008" from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow at ND (June 10, 2009) .

  "AV Rama Rao Technology Award" from Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad. (cash prize 1 lakh) (May 11, 2009).

  "Chanakya" Award in the area of Technology Innovative Leadership from Public Relations Council of India at Bangalore (April 3, 2009).

  "Man of the Year" form Limca Book of Records, 2009 at New Delhi (March 31, 2009).

  "Special Achievement Award" for contribution towards Science & Technology from the International Institute of Planning & Management& The Sunday Indian State Excellence Awards, 2008 at The Leela Palace, Bangalore (March 25, 2009).

  "Yashwantrao Chavan National Award 2008" from Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai on the occasion of the 96th Birth Anniversary of Shri.Yashwantrao Chavan (March 12, 2009).

  "Kururamma Award" from Kururamma Tempan, Guruvayoor (March 4, 2009).

  "Public Service Excellence Award" from All Indian Management Association at the All India Management Association Foundation Day at Delhi (2009).

  NASSCOM's Global Leadership "Award for Vision" for 2008-09 from NASSCOM at Mumbai (2009).

  "Newsmaker 2008" - Manorama News Award at Trivandrum (2009).

  "Bharat Asmita Shreshtatva Award-2009" from MIT School of Government, Pune, at New Delhi (2009).

  "CNN-IBN Indian of the Year 2008" in Public Service Category (2009).

  "AK Nair Memorial Award" from The North Malabar Chamber of Commerce by AK Nair Endowment Committee at Kannur (2009).

  "NDTV Indian of The Year" Award at New Delhi (2009).

  Raja Rammohan Puraskar" award on the 236th birth anniversary of Raja Rammohan Roy at Kolkata (2008)

  M M Chugani award for 2006, confered by Indian Physics Association at IIT Mumbai (2008).

  "Bharat Shiromani Award 2006" from Shiromani Institute, New Delhi (2007).

  "Shankar Ratna" award from Shankara Netralaya - a unit of Medical Research Foundation, Chennai (2007).

  Dr. A S G Jayakar Award from the Science India Forum, Muscat and the Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage - Oman Chapter (2007).

  "9th Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award" in the field of Science & Technology from The South Indian Education Society, Mumbai (2006).

  Gold Medal from the Prime Minister at the 94th Indian Science Congress at Chidambaram (2007).

  "Sasthra Ratna" Purskara from the Pazhassi Raja Charitable Trust, Kozhikode (2006).

  The First "Sree Chithira Thirunal Award" from Sree Chithira Thirunal Trust, Thiruvananthapuram.

  "Lokmanya Tilak Award" from Tilak Smarak Trust, Pune (2006).

  Honoured by the Lakshmikanthammal Educational Trust for outstanding contribution to the field of Indian Space Research at RMK Engineering College, Thiruvallur (2006).

  "Best R&D Man of the Year" Corporate Excellence Award - 2005 from the Foundation of Indian Industry & Economists at ND.(2006).

  Fifth "Shri Balvantbhai Parekh Award" from The Indian Planetary Society,Mumbai (2006).

  H.K.Firodia Award 2005 from H.K.Firodia Memorial Foundation, Pune (2005).

  Dr. Yelavarthy Nayudamma Memorial Award - 2004 from Dr.Y.Nayudamma Memorial Trust, Tenali, Andhra Pradesh (2005).

  Benedict Mar Gregorios Award from The Association of Mar Ivanios College Old Students, Trivandrum (2005).

  10th Science & Technology Award for Excellence for the year 2003-2004 from Sathyabama Deemed University, Chennai (2005).

  Raja Sir Muthiah Chettiar Endowment Award from Crescent Engineering College, Chennai (2004).

  Fellow, Astronautical Society of India.

  Melpadom Attumail Georgekutty Award from Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, Thiruvalla (2004).

  Personality of the Decade Award from KG Foundation, Coimbatore (2004).

  Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Gold Medal of the Indian Science Congress Association - January 2003

  Swadeshi Sastra Puraskar Award - 1995

  Shri Om Prakash Bhasin Award - 1995

  FIE Foundation's Award - 1994

  National Aeronautical Award - 1994