Udipi Ramachandra Rao
Udupi Ramachandra Rao, popularly known as U. R. Rao is a space scientist and former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation. Presently he is the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad, which is considered as the cradle of India's Space Program. Prof Rao was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1976. U. R. Rao was born at Adamaru in Karnataka State, India. He had his primary education at Adamaru.
Prof Rao started his career as a cosmic ray scientist, under the late Dr Vikram Sarabhai, which work he continued at MIT. In association with the JPL Group, he was the first to establish the continuous nature of the solar wind and its effect on geomagnetism using Mariner 2 observations. Prof Rao's experiments on a number of Pioneer and Explorer spacecrafts, 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, Prof 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 sophisticated IRS-1A and 1B remote sensing satellites were designed, fabricated and launched for providing communication, remote sensing and meteorological services.
Prof. Rao has tirelessly worked towards the utilisation of the vast benefits from space technology for the development of India. INSAT's initiated a total communication revolution in India, providing nationwide communication, TV Broadcasting, Developmental Education, Radio-Networking, Multimedia, Meteorological and Disaster Warning Services.
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