Dr. Radhakrishnan is recipient of numerous accolades including the prestigious Allan D Emil Memorial Award from International Astronautical Federation;“Distinguished Alumnus Award” of IIT Kharagpur (2010) and of IIM Bangalore (2010); Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award of Indian Science Congress.(2010); Social Sciences Award (2009) of the International Academy of Astronautics; Athivishishta Rajakeeya Puraskaram – "Sastra Ratna" by the Pazhassiraja Charitable Trust (2010); Dr. Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award of Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences (2009); BHASKARA Award of Indian Society of Remote Sensing (2008); Silver Jubilee Honour by Ministry of Earth Sciences (2006); VASVIK Industrial Research Award in the field of Electrical and Electronics Sciences & Technology (2005); and K.R. Ramanathan Memorial Gold Medal of Indian Geophysical Union (2003). In 2014 he was bestowed with the coveted Padma-Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in the country.

Dr. Radhakrishnan has been conferred Honorary Doctorates by as many as ten Indian Uiversities (i) Amity University, (ii) IIT Kharagpur, (iii) Shri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantpur; (iv) Pandit. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur; (v) KIIT University, Bhubaneswar; (vi) Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati; (vii) Rajasthan Technical University, Kota; (viii) GITAM University, Visakhapatnam, (ix) Tumkur University and (x) SRM University, Chennai.

Dr. Radhakrishnan has contributed to academia in several ways. He had been author/co-author for more than 55 publications, including 12 in standard referred journals includingSpace Forum, Current Science, Journal of Aerospace Sciences and Technologies, Acta Astronautica, Journal of Geological Society of India, Journal of Rural technology etc. He has also delivered several prestigious addresses/award lectures including the Air-Marshall Katre Memorial Lecture (2013); 29th Convocation Address at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram (2013); 35th Convocation Address at Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (2010); "Statistics Day of India" Technical Seminar at Indian Statistical Institute Calcutta (2010); 1st Invited Lecture at IISc Alumni Association(2010), 9th Convocation Address at International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (2010), Subroto Mukherjee Memorial Oration of Indian Aerospace Society (2008); and ARDB Dr. Satish Dhawan Memorial Lecture of Aeronautical Society of India (2007).

He has had a distinguished career adorned with accomplishments spanning beyond 41 years in space technology, applications and space programme management.

  Starting his career as an Avionics Engineer in May 1971 at ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram; he commendably held several decisive positions in ISRO later such as Project Director for setting up Regional Remote Sensing Centers (1987-89); Director of Budget & Economic Analysis for entire ISRO (1987-97); Director of National Natural Resources Management System-Regional Remote Sensing Service Centers (1989-97); Mission Director of Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development and Deputy Director of National Remote Sensing Agency (1997-2000); Director of National Remote Sensing Agency (2005-08); Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (2007-09); and Member, Space Commission (October 2008-October 2009) with some responsibilities in concurrence.

  During July 2000-November 2005, he had a stint in the Department of Ocean Development (currently Ministry of Earth Sciences) as the Founder Director of Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services and the first Project Director of Indian National Tsunami Warning System.

  He held several important positions at the international level during his tenure at Department of Ocean Development and also in ISRO. The prestigious positions include Vice Chairman of Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (2001-05), Regional Coordinator (Indian Ocean) for International Project on Argo Profiling Floats (2001-05), Founder Chairman of Indian Ocean Global Ocean Observing System (2001-06), Chairman of the Working Group of the Whole of UN-COPUOS STSC (2008-2009) and Leader of Indian delegation to UN-COPUOS (2008-09).

  In November 01, 2009, Dr. Radhakrishnan assumed the concomitant responsibilities of Chairman of Space Commission and Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India as well as the Chairman of ISRO Council (Chairman, ISRO).

  Also, he has been also holding related ex-officio portfolios as
(i) Chairman of INSAT Coordination Committee;
(ii) Chairman of Board of Management of Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram;
(iii) Chairman of Management Council of Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL),Chandigarh;
(iv) Chairman of Governing Council of North-Eastern Space Applications Centre, Shillong;
(v) Chairman of Governing Council of National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Tirupati;
(vi) Member of Council of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, and
(vii) Member of Planning Committee of National Natural Resources Management System (PC-NNRMS). He was Chairman of the Board of ANTRIX Corporation Ltd during Nov 2009-July 2011.

  He is Member of the CSIR Society and Governing Body (since 2011) and Chairman of Research Council, National Aerospace Laboratory of CSIR (since April 2010).

  He is Ex-officio Member of the Scientific Advisory Committees to PM and to the Cabinet. Also, he is a Member of the Council of NITs, Governing Councils of several IISERs