Former ISRO Chief Kasturirangan Passes Away at 84

Bengaluru: Former ISRO chief and chairperson of drafting committee behind the ambitious new National Education Policy (NEP) K. Kasturirangan passed away in Bengaluru on Friday, officials said. He was 84. "He left for heavenly abode this morning at his residence in Bengaluru. His body will be kept at Raman Research Institute (RRI) for paying last respects on April 27," the officials said.Kasturirangan had suffered a mild heart attack two years ago, and had been ailing since then.
Known as the man behind education reforms listed in NEP, Kasturirangan had served as chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University and chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission. He had also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha (2003-09) and as member of then Planning Commission of India. Kasturirangan was also the Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore from April 2004 to 2009.
Kasturirangan headed ISRO between 1994 and 2003,a turbulent time period for India’s space agency since it faced a number of international restrictions, including access to cryogenic technology. The restrictions became even tighter after India’s nuclear test in 1998.
It was during Kasturirangan’s leadership that ISRO embarked on a path of self-reliance and began planning for the big missions like Chandrayan.
Under his leadership, ISRO achieved several remarkable milestones, including the successful launches and operationalisation of India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Dr. Kasturirangan also oversaw the first successful flight test of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). His tenure saw the development and launch of key satellites, including the IRS-1C and 1D, and the initiation of the second and third-generation INSAT satellites. These advances firmly positioned India as a key player in global space exploration.
Dr. Kasturirangan was conferred several prestigious awards in recognition of his work, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Engineering, the M.P. Birla Memorial Award in Astronomy, and the H.K. Firodia Award in Science Technology. In addition, he received the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan for his invaluable contributions to space science and technology.
With over 200 published papers in international and national journals, Dr. Kasturirangan also edited six books, making significant academic contributions in astronomy, space science, and space applications. His legacy is deeply ingrained in India's space history, and his passing leaves a void in the scientific community.