RENOWNED SPACE SCIENTIST UR RAO PASSES AWAY
BENGALURU: Renowned space scientist Udupi Ramachandra Rao, who was a former chairman of the ISRO, passed away here on Monday. Rao has long been associated with the space programmes, the most prominent being Aryabhatta and Mars Orbiter missions. The eminent scientist was conferred a Padma Vibhushan earlier this year.
BENGALURU: Renowned space scientist Udupi Ramachandra Rao (85), who was also former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, passed away at his residence here in the early hours of Monday.
Rao was the chairman of the governing council of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad and chancellor of the Indian Institute of Science and Technology at Thiruvananthapuram.
Rao, who was the chairman of Isro from 1984 to 1994, breathed his last about 3 am on Monday.
Rao has long been associated with the space programme in India for a long time. He was born in Adampur village in Udupi, and has worked with Satish Dhawan and Vikram Sarabhai.
The eminent scientist, who was conferred a Padma Vibhushan earlier this year, was part of the Aryabhatta and Mars Orbiter Missions.
Speaking to HT, PS Goel, former associate director of the Isro satellite centre who worked with Rao since the 1970s, said it was a great loss to the space research community. “Apart from his achievements as a scientist he was also a great builder of institutions,” Goel said.
Goel said, “He was a visionary who created so many leaders, which is unlike a majority of the scientists,” Goel added.
“If India is now third in terms of space research it is because of the foundation he laid,” Goel said.
Another former associate of Rao’s, M Annadurai, who was director of the ISAC, too, was profuse in his admiration for the former. “It’s a great loss for Indian science and technology in general and the world of space in general,” Annadurai said. “Personally, he was a guiding spirit,” Annadurai added.
In May 2016, Rao became the first Indian to be given the 'Hall of Fame' award by the International Astronautical Federation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah led the tributes among politicians.
Modi tweeted that was saddened by the demise of Rao. “His remarkable contribution to India's space programme will never be forgotten.”
Meanwhile, Siddarmaiah, who visited Rao’s residence on Monday, tweeted: “India will be long grateful for his contributions in building our space [programme]. Isro and the scientific community have lost a tall leader today.”