Krishnaswami Kasturirangan

Infobox Scientist
name = Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan
caption = Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan
birth_date = birth date|1940|10|24|df=y Ernakulam, Kerala
birth_place =
death_date =
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nationality = n
field = Astronomy
work_institution = Indian Space Research Organisation

alma_mater = Bachelor of Science with Honours and Master of Science degrees in Physics from Bombay University
doctoral_advisor =
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known_for = Indian space program
prizes = Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan
religion =
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Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan (born 20th October, 1940, in Ernakulam, Kerala, India) (Kannada:ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಕಸ್ತೂರಿ ರಂಗನ್ ) is a space scientist who headed the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) until 2003 and is now an M. P. (nominated to Rajya Sabha). He is also the Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, since April 2004. He is a recipient of the three civilian awards from the Government of India, the Padma Shri (1982), Padma Bhushan (1992) and Padma Vibhushan (2000).

Key Contributions

Dr. Kasturirangan was responsible for directing the Indian Space programme for over 9 years, as Chairman of ISRO and the Space Commission and as Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Space, before laying down office on 27 August 2003. He was earlier the Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, overseeing the development of new generation spacecraft, the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-2) and the Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (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.

The Indian space programme achieved major milestones under his stewardship, including the operationalisation of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the first successful flight testing of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). His tenure in office also saw the successful design, development and launch of the Remote Sensing satellites, IRS-1C and 1D and the ocean observation satellites IRS-P3/P4.

pace Programme Career Highlights

* 1994 - 2003 Chairman, Space Commission/Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India, Bangalore
* 1990 - 1994 Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore
* 1986 - 1989 Associate Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore
* 1984 - 1986 Deputy Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore
* 1980 - 1989 Project Director, Satellite IRS-1A, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore
* 1979 - 1983 Project Director, Satellite Bhaskara-II, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore
* 1976 - 1980 Project Director, Satellite Bhaskara-I, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore

Education and Research

Dr.Kasturirangan graduated in Science with Honours, and obtained his Master of Science degree in Physics, from Bombay University. He received his Doctorate Degree in Experimental High Energy Astronomy in 1971, working at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.

As an Astrophysicist, Dr.Kasturirangan's research interests include high energy X-ray and gamma ray astronomy as well as optical astronomy. He has published more than 220 papers, in international and national journals, in the areas of astronomy, space science and space applications.

Dr.Kasturirangan is a member of several important scientific academies and educational institutions (like BITS Pilani), both within India and abroad.

Bibliography

* "The Aryabhata Project" by U R Rao and K Kasturirangan (1979)
* "Perspectives in Communications" by U R Rao, K Kasturirangan, K R Sridhara Murthi and Surendra Pai (1987)
* "Space - In Pursuit of New Horizons (A Festschrift for Prof U R Rao)" by R K Varma, K Kasturirangan, U S Srivastava and B H Subbaraya (1992)
* "Role of Developing Countries in Ground Based Experiments in Support of Space Observations for Global and Regional Studies" edited by K Kasturirangan and R R Daniel (COSPAR Journal Advances in Space Research, 1996)
* "The Geocentric Planets" by K Kasturirangan and R K Kochhar
* "Human connectivity Through Space" (Science and Technology for Achieving Food Economic and Health)
* "Problems of Space Science Research : Education and the Role of Teachers" edited by K Kasturirangan, J L Fellous, S C Chakravarthy, R S Young and M J Rycroft. (COSPAR Journal Advances in Space Research, 1997)

External links

* [http://www.isro.org/krangan/biodata_krangan.htm Dr. Kasturirangan's biodata at ISRO]
* [http://rspas.anu.edu.au/papers/narayanan/2006oration.pdf India's Space Enterprise : A Case Study in Strategic Thinking and Planning] , Dr Kasturirangan's 2006 Narayanan Oration at the Australia South Asia Research Centre (ASARC)