Udupi Ramachandra Rao was an Indian space scientist and former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation. He was also the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad and Nehru Planetarium at Bengaluru and chancellor of the Indian Institute for Space Science and Technology (IIST) at Thiruvananthapuram. He is known as "The Satellite Man of India". He pioneered India's first satellite launch Aryabhata in 1975.

Rao was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1976, and Padma Vibhushan in 2017. He was inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame, Washington, on 19 March 2013 at a ceremony organised by the Society of Satellite Professionals International. With this he became the first Indian to be inducted. He was also to be inducted in International Astronautics Federation (IAF) on 15 May 2016. He was again the first Indian to achieve such a feat.

Early life

U. R. Rao was born into a Madhwa Brahmin Hindu family at Adamaru in the state of Karnataka. His parents were Lakshminarayana Acharya and Krishnaveni Amma. He had his primary education at Adamaru. He completed his secondary education from Christian High School, Udupi. He completed his B.Sc. in Government Arts and Science College, Anantpur, M.Sc. from Banaras Hindu University and Ph.D. at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad under the guidance of Vikram Sarabhai.

Education

Ph.D. – Gujarat University, 1960
M.Sc. – Banaras Hindu University, 1954
B.Sc. – Madras University, 1952
After working as a post doctoral associate 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 spacecraft, Rao returned to India in 1966 as a professor at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.

Career

Rao started his career as a cosmic ray scientist and worked under Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, which he continued at MIT. In association with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory group, he was the first to establish the continuous nature of the solar wind and its effect on geomagnetism using Mariner 2 observations. Rao's experiments on a number of Pioneer and Explorer spacecraft led to a complete understanding of the solar cosmic-ray phenomena and the electromagnetic state of the interplanetary space. Convinced of the imperative need to use space technology for rapid development, 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 including Bhaskara, APPLE, Rohini, INSAT-1 and INSAT-2 series of multipurpose satellites and the IRS-1A and IRS-1B remote sensing satellites were designed, fabricated and launched for providing communication, remote sensing, and meteorological services.

As Chairman of ISRO

After taking charge as Chairman, Space Commission and Secretary, Department of Space in 1985, Rao accelerated the development of rocket technology resulting in the successful launch of ASLV rocket in 1992. He was also responsible for the development of the operational PSLV launch vehicle, which successfully launched an 850 kg. satellite into a polar orbit in 1995. Rao initiated the development of the geostationary launch vehicle GSLV and the development of cryogenic technology in 1991. He was responsible for successful launch of INSAT satellites during his stint at ISRO. The launch of INSAT satellites gave a thrust to communications in India, during the 1980s and 1990s. The successful launch of INSAT provided telecommunication links to remote corners of India. During these decades fixed telephone (called as landline) expanded throughout country due to availability of satellite links at different places in the ground. People could talk easily from anywhere by use of STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialing) instead of waiting for hours to get the connection. This development played a key role in future for India to develop as an Information Technology hub. He was the first Chairman of Antrix Corporation. He received the Padma Bhushan in 1976. He was the first Indian Space Scientist to be allowed into the Prestigious “Satellite Hall of Fame” at Washington DC, USA in recent past on March 19, 2013.

Additional responsibilities

Rao was an elected Fellow of many academies such as Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers, International Academy of Astronautics and Third World Academy of Sciences. Rao was conferred Fellowship of the World Academy of Arts & Sciences. He was the General President of the Indian Science Congress Association for 1995-96. Rao was the Vice President of International Astronautical Federation (IAF) during 1984 to 1992 and continues to be the Chairman of the Committee for Liaison with Developing Countries (CLIODN) since 1986. Rao was elected as the Chairman of United Nations - Committee On Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS) in June 1997 and also Chairman of UNISPACE-III Conference. He was elected as the Chairman of the 30th International Antarctic Treaty Consultative Committee Meeting at Delhi in April 2007.

He was the Co-Chairman of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa. He was the first chairman of Prasar Bharati. Rao was the Fourth President of the Governing Body of the Centre for Space Physics in 2007. While the President, he changed its name to Indian Centre for Space Physics in recognition to its National importance. Other positions held by Rao in India include :

Chairman, Karnataka Science and Technology Academy
Chairman, Bangalore Association of Science Education-JNP
Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow
Member, Central Board of Directors, Reserve Bank of India
Additional Director, Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Ltd., Bangalore
Chairman, Governing Council of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune

Awards

He was the recipient of many national and international awards, such as :

National Awards
1975 Karnataka Rajyotsava Award
1975 Hari Om Vikram Sarabhai Award
1975 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in the Space science & technology field
1976 Padma Bhushan
1980 National Design Award
1980 Vasvik Research Award in the Electronic Sciences & Technology field
1983 Karnataka Rajyotsava Award
1987 PC Mahalnobis Medal
1993 Om Prakash Bhasin Award in the Energy & Aerospace field
1993 Meghnad Saha Medal
1994 P.C. Chandra Puraskar Award
1994 Electronics Man of the Year Award by ELCINA
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 Award for Science & Technology
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
2005 Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi Outstanding Leadership Award
2007 Life Time Achievement Award of Indian Space Research Organisation
2007 Distinguished Scientist Gold Medal of the Karnataka Science & Technology Academy.
2007 Vishwamanava Award by Vishwamanava Samsthe
2007 A.V. Rama Rao Technology Award
2008 Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award for 2007-2008 from ISCA
2017 Padma Vibhushan

International Awards
1973 Group Achievement Award by NASA, USA
1975 Medal of Honour by Academy of Sciences, USSR
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 Space News magazine named him as one of the Top 10 International 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 Inducted into Satellite Hall of Fame by Society of Satellite Professionals International' 
2016 Inducted into Hall of Fame by International Astronautical Federation.

Honours

People's President and distinguished scientist Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam had an effective association with Prof. U. R. Rao. While Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam was President, he presented the Life Time Achievement Award constituted by ISRO and Astronautical Society of India (ASI) to Prof. Rao for his outstanding contribution to the organization.

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 University of Bologna (Italy)
1992 Banaras
1992 Udaipur
1993 Tirupati (SV)
1994 Hyderabad (JN)
1994 Madras (Anna University)
1994 Roorkee University
1995 Punjabi University, Patiala
1997 Shri Shahu Ji Maharaj 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

Legacy

On March 10, 2021, a Google Doodle was made in honor of his 89th birthday.

Fellowships / Memberships

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.
Fellow of International Aeronautical Federation (IAF) proposed.

Professional Activities in International Arena

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

Other roles

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)

Books authored

U. R. Rao, K. Kasturirangan, K. R. Sridhara Murthi. and Surendra Pal (Editors), "Perspectives in Communications", World Scientific (1987). ISBN 978-9971-978-76-1
U. R. Rao, "Space and Agenda 21 - Caring for Planet Earth", Prism Books Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore (1995).
U. R. Rao, "Space Technology for Sustainable Development", Tata McGraw-Hill Pub., New Delhi (1996)