Google honors 'India's Satellite Man' with a doodle on his 89th birthday

New Delhi, March 10: Remembering India's "Satellite Man" and renowned scientist late Udupi Ramachandra Rao, Google honors him with an animated Doodle on the occasion of his 89th birthday.

The doodle features a sketch of Professor Rao with a background of the earth and shooting stars, saying that his "stellar technological advancements continue to be felt across the galaxy".

Rao was an Indian space scientist and chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He supervised the 1975 launch of India’s first satellite — “Aryabhata.” Born on March 10, 1932, in Karnataka, Rao passed away in 2017.

Rao began his career as a cosmic-ray physicist and worked under the father of the Indian space programme, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. After which Rao started working as a professor in US. . In association with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory group, Rao was the first to establish the continuous nature of the solar wind and its effect on geomagnetism using Mariner 2 observations. He then conducted experiments on NASA’s Pioneer and Explorer space probes.

 

 

He returned in 1996, and became a professor at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, before spearheading India's satellite program in 1972. 

 

Rao supervised the 1975 launch of India’s first satellite“Aryabhata” one of over 20 satellites he developed that transformed much of rural India by advancing communication and meteorological services. 

 

After taking charge as Chairman, Space Commission and Secretary, Department of Space in 1984, Prof. Rao accelerated the development of rocket technology. . He was also responsible for the development of the operational PSLV launch vehicle. Rao initiated the development of the geostationary launch vehicle GSLV and the development of cryogenic technology in 1991. He was responsible for the 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. 

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1976 and Padma Vibhushan in 2017. Apart from this Rao was inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame, Washington, in 2013 at a ceremony by the Society of Satellite Professionals International. With this, he became the first Indian to be inducted into that category. He also became the first Indian space scientist to be inducted into the Prestigious "IAF Hall of Fame" at Guadalajara, Mexico.

 

Prof Rao had published over 350 scientific and technical papers covering cosmic rays, interplanetary physics, high energy astronomy, space applications, and satellite and rocket technology and authored many books. He was also the recipient of D.Sc. (Hon. Causa) Degree from over 25 Universities including the University of Bologna, the oldest University in Europe.

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