Dr.Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan(1994-2003)Home /About/Former chairman/Dr.Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan
Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan is presently Member of Planning Commission. Dr. Kasturirangan has steered the Indian Space programme gloriously for over 9 years as Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, of Space Commission and Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Space, before laying down his office on August 27, 2003. He was earlier the Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, where he oversaw the activities related to the development of new generation spacecraft, Indian National Satellite (INSAT-2) and Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS-1A & 1B) as well as scientific satellites.
He was also the Project Director for India's first two experimental earth observation satellites, BHASKARA-I & II and subsequently was responsible for overall direction of the first operational Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, IRS-1A.
Dr. Kasturirangan took his Bachelor of Science with Honours and Master of Science degrees in Physics from Bombay University and received his Doctorate Degree in Experimental High Energy Astronomy in 1971 working at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.
Under his leadership, as Chairman, ISRO, the space programme has witnessed several major milestones including the successful launching and operationalisation of the India's prestigious launch vehicle, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and more recently, the first successful flight testing of the all important Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
Further, he has also overseen the design, development and launching of the world's best civilian satellites, IRS-1C and 1D, realization of the second generation and initiation of third generation INSAT satellites, besides launching ocean observation satellites IRS-P3/P4. These efforts have put India as a pre-eminent space-faring nation among the handful of six countries that have major space programmes.
As an Astrophysicist, Dr. Kasturirangan's interest includes research in high energy X-ray and gamma ray astronomy as well as optical astronomy. He has made extensive and significant contributions to studies of Cosmic x-ray sources, celestial gamma-ray and effect of cosmic x-rays in the lower atmosphere.
Dr. Kasturirangan is a member of several important scientific academies, both within India and abroad. He is presently the President of the Indian Academy of Sciences at Bangalore and General President of the Indian Science Congress.
He is a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Sciences of India, Indian National Academy of Engineering, Astronautical Society of India, National Telematics Forum, The Indian Meteorological Society and The Third World Academy of Sciences.
He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers, Founder Member of the Astronomical Society of India, Life Member of the Indian Physics Association, Indian Science Congress Association and Indian Society of Remote Sensing and Honorary Fellow of the Aeronautical Society of India and Kerala Academy of Sciences.
He is also a Member of the International Astronomical Union and the International Academy of Astronautics and is a member of its Board of Trustees. He has chaired some of the prestigious international committees, such as, the International Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), Panel for Space Research in Developing countries of COSPAR/ICSU, and the committee meeting at senior official level of UN-ESCAP, that led to the adoption of the "Delhi Declaration" by the Ministers of the region (1999-2000).
He is also the Chairman of the Governing Board of the UN Centre for Space Science & Technology Education (UN-CSSTE), of the Board of Governors of IIT Chennai, of the Governing Council of the Raman Research Institute and Research Council of the National Aerospace Laboratory.
He has won several awards including Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Engineering, Shri Hari Om Ashram Dr.Vikram Sarabhai Prerit Award in Aerospace, M.P.Birla Memorial Award in Astronomy, Shri M.M.Chugani Memorial Award in Applied Science, H.K.Firodia Award in Science Technology, RathindraPuraskar by Visvabharati, Santiniketan, Dr.M.N.Saha Birth Centenary Medal for outstanding contributions in the field of Space.
He has been conferred Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. He has published more than 200 papers, both in international and national journals in the areas of astronomy, space science, space applications and has edited 6 books.
Shri.Hari Om Ashram Dr.Vikram Sarabhai Prerit Award (1981)
Award of Intercosmos Council of the Soviet Academy of Sciences (1981)
Shanti SwarupBhatnagar Award in Engineering Sciences (1983
Shri.OmPrakashBhasin Foundation Award (1988).
Award of the Institution of Engineers (India), Karnataka (1992)
Dr.Y.Nayudamma Memorial Award (1995).
Dr.K.R.Ramanathan Memorial Gold Medal for 1995 conferred by Indian Geo-Physical Union (1995)
FIE Foundation's 1995 National Award (1996).
G.P.Chatterjee Memorial Award (1997) of ISCA
M.P.Birla Memorial Award in Astronomy (1997).
Goyal Award conferred by Goyal Foundation (1997).
Biren Roy Memorial Lecture Medal of the Indian Physical Society, Calcutta (1998).
Outstanding Achievement in Indigenization Award of the Lakshmikanthammal Education Trust, Chennai (1999).
VidyaRatna National Award of Subbaram Trust, Bangalore (1999)
Shri Murli M.Chugani Memorial Award for Excellence in Applied Physics of Indian Physics Association (1999).
H.K.Firodia Award for Excellence in Science & Technology by H.K.Firodia Memorial Foundation (1999)
IGU Millenium Award by Indian Geophysical Union (1999).
M.N.Saha Birth Centenary Award for 1999-2000 conferred by 87th Indian Science Congress (2000).
Aryabhata Medal Award 2000 conferred by Indian National Science Academy, Calcutta (2001)
4th Sri ChandrasekarendraSaraswati National Eminence Award by South Indian Education Society, Mumbai on 28/12/2001(2001).
International Collaboration Accomplishment Award 2001'conferred by International Society for Air Breathing Engines(ISOABE),Bangalore.
RathindhraPuraskar' for the year 1999 by Visvabharati, Santiniketan (2002).
Award of "Officer of the Legion d'honneur", the highest decoration given by the Government of France (2002)
"V.Krishnamurthy Award for Excellence"conferred by Centre for Organisation Development, Hyderabad (2002)
"G.M.Modi Award" for outstanding contribution in innovative Science, conferred by GujarmalModi Science foundation, New Delhi (2002)
'BhoovigyanRatna Award' from BhoovigyanVikas Foundation, New Delhi (2002)
8th National Science & Technology Award for Excellence by the Jeppiaar Educational Trust, Chennai (2003)
'6th Ram Mohan Puraskar 2003' awarded by Ram Mohan Mission, Calcutta (2003).
'AsutoshMookerjee Memorial Award' by the Indian Science Congress, Chandigarh (2004)
'Man of the Year' award by the Centenarian Trust, Chennai (2004)
'Prof. M.N.Saha Memorial Lecture Medal' of the National Academy of Sciences of India, Jaipur (2004)
'Life Time Contribution Award in Engineering' for 2004 by Indian National Academy of Engineering, Delhi (2004).
'ISPRS Brock Medal' instituted jointly by ISPRS and ASPRS, Istanbul, Turkey (2004).
Allan D Emil Memorial Award of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), Vancouver, Canada (2004).
'Balvantbhai Parekh Gold Medal 2005' for life-time Achievements in Space Science by The Indian Planetary Society, Mumbai (2005).
'Aryabhata Award 2003' by Astronautical Society of India (2005).
'Lifetime Achievement Award' of the Asia-Pacific Satellite communications Council, Singapore (2005).
'LakshmipatSinghania - IIM Lucknow National Leadership Award 2006' by Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (2006).
The Jewel of Ruia Award by Ruia College Alumni Association, ShikshanaPrasarakaMandali'sRamnarainRuia College, Dec. 2007.
Theodore Von Karman Award by International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), France (2007)
MaharanaUdai Singh Award by Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation in Udaipur, March 2, 2008
Rajayogindra Award, Maharaja of Mysore, Mysore, 18 July 2008
Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Gold Medal, 96th Indian Science Congress,The Indian Science Congress Association,3January 2009Shillong
ShasthraBhooshan Award by His Highness Pazhassi Raja Charitable Trust, Kerala, 27 February 2009.
Prof Y. T. Thathachari Lifetime Achievement Award by Bhramara Trust of Prof. Y T Thathachari and Smt. MadhuriThathachari of Mysore on March 14, 2009
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) conferred by Banaras Hindu University (1994)
D.Sc (Honorary Degree) conferred by Andhra University (1995)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) by S.V.University, Tirupati (1996)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) by Sri Krishna Devaraya University, Ananthpur (1998)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) by Anna University, Chennai(1998)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) conferred by Roorkee University, Roorkee (1999)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) conferred by IIT, Bombay (2000)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) conferred by ChatrapatiShahuJiMaharaj University, Kanpur (2000)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) by Roorkee University, Amritsar (2001)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) by University of Calcutta (2002)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) conferred by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi (2003)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) conferred by Panjab University, Chandigarh (2003)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) conferred by Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum (2004)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) conferred by Alagappa University, Karaikudi (2006)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) conferred by Mysore University, Mysore (2007)
D.Sc (HonorisCausa) conferred by SRM University , Chennai (2008)