Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan

Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan (born 24 October 1940) is an Indian space scientist who headed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from 1994 to 2003.[1] He is presently Chancellor of Central University of Rajasthan[2] and NIIT University.[3] He is the former chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University[4] and the chairman of Karnataka Knowledge Commission.[5] He is a former member of the Rajya Sabha (2003–09) and a former member of the now defunct Planning Commission of India. He was also the Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, from April 2004 to 2009. He is a recipient of the three major civilian awards from the Government of India: the Padma Shri (1982), Padma Bhushan (1992) and Padma Vibhushan (2000).[6]

For other people named Krishnaswami, see Krishnaswami.

In this Indian name, the name Krishnaswamy is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Kasturirangan.
Krishnaswamy Kasturiran
Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan
Born (1940-10-24) 24 October 1940
Ernakulam, Kingdom of Cochin, British India
NationalityIndian
Alma materUniversity of Mumbai (BS, MS)
Physical Research Laboratory (PhD)
AwardsPadma Vibhushan
Scientific career
FieldsSpace Research
InstitutionsNational Institute of Advanced Studies
Indian Space Research Organisation
Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan
Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation
In office
1994 – 27 August 2003
Preceded byUdupi Ramachandra Rao
Succeeded byG. Madhavan Nair

Education

Kasturirangan did his schooling at SRV Govt High School Ernakulam. Kasturirangan graduated in Science with Honours from Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga situated in central Mumbai, and obtained his Master of Science degree in Physics, from University of Mumbai.[7] He received his Doctorate Degree in Experimental High Energy Astronomy in 1971, working at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. He has published more than 244 papers in the areas of astronomy, space science and applications.

Key contributions

Dr. Kasturirangan served as Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation for 9 years, Chairman of Space Commission and Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Space, before laying down his office on August 27, 2003. In ISRO he served as the Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, overseeing the development of new generation spacecraft, the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-2), the Indian Remote SensingSatellites (IRS-1A and 1B) as well as scientific satellites. He was also the Project Director for India's first two experimental earth observation satellites, Bhaskara-I and II.

Under his leadership, the programme witnessed several major milestones including the successful launching and operationalisation of the India's prestigious launch vehicles, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. Studies on the advanced version of the GSLV, GSLVMk-III, was also completed including defining its full configuration. Further, he also oversaw the development and launching of some of the world's best civilian remote sensing satellites, IRS-1C and IRS-1D, realisation of new generation INSAT communication satellites, besides ocean observation satellites IRS-P3/P4. He also led the initiative for India to enter the planetary exploration era by an extensive studies leading to the definition of Chandrayaan-1. 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 interests include research in high energy X-ray and gamma ray astronomy as well as optical astronomy. Defining India's most ambitious space based High Energy Astronomy observatory and initiating a related activities was also an important milestone under his leadership. He has made extensive and significant contributions to studies of Cosmic x-ray and gamma ray sources and effect of cosmic x-rays in the lower atmosphere.

Kasturirangan is head of a committee tasked with creating a new education policy for India.[8]

Dr. K Kasturirangan also serves as a member of the board of trustees of the Raman Research Institute Trust, Bengaluru.[9]

Honours and awards

Dr Kasturirangan is the recipient of Honorary Doctorate from 27 universities.


References
  1. "Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan (1994-2003)". Indian Space Research Organisation. 2016.
  2. "Home | Central University of Rajasthan".
  3. "Former ISRO chief Kasturirangan to take over as NIIT University chairperson". India Today. 23 November 2019.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Planning Commission Organisation". Shivap. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  6. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  7. "Dr Kasturirangan, the mind behind the New Education Policy, used to head India's space agency". Business Insider. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  8. ISSN 1476-4687
  9. "Raman Research Institute". www.rri.res.in. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
Government offices
Preceded by
U. R. Rao		 ISRO Chairman
1994 - 2003		 Succeeded by
G. Madhavan Nair
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