Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao (1984-1994)Home /About /Former chairman/Prof. Udupi Ramachandra 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.
He was the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad and the Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space science and Technology at Thiruvananthapuram. 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.
Prof Rao was awarded 'Padma Bhushan' by the Government of India in 1976, which is the third highest Civilian Award and ‘Padma Vibhushan’ in 2017 which is the second highest Civilian Award. Prof. U.R. Rao became the first Indian Space Scientist to be inducted into the highly Prestigious “Satellite Hall of Fame” at Washington DC, USA on March 19, 2013. Prof. U.R. Rao became the first Indian Space Scientist to be inducted into the highly Prestigious “IAF Hall of Fame” at Guadalajara, Mexico.
Bachelor of Sciences from Madras University, India, 1951,
MS from Banaras Hindu University, India 1953
Ph.D. from Gujarat University, India 1960
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,
1997 ShriShahuJiMaharaj University,
Patiala 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,
2010 Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune
2012 National Institute of Technology, Agarthala
2013 Bangalore University
2013 Indian Institute of Technology - Bhubaneswar
2014 Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Bellary
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.
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
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
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.
"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
1976 Padma Bhushan
2017 Padma Vibhushan
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 MeghnadSaha 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
2009 Hari Om Ashram Prerit Senior Scientist Award-2008
2010 ISCA General President Gold Medal Awardrd
2011 Sivananda Eminent Citizen Award
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
2013 Prof. U.R. Rao became the first Indian Space Scientist to be inducted into the highly Prestigious “Satellite Hall of Fame” at Washington DC, USA
2016 Prof. U.R. Rao became the first Indian Space Scientist to be inducted into the highly Prestigious “IAF Hall of Fame” at Guadalajara, Mexico
"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).
"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