Pioneer in space

UR Rao, one of the leading stars of India’s space programme, passed into history on Monday morning. He was 85.

During the mid-1980s, his was one of the most visible faces in the Indian media, especially in the scientific world. As beat reporters in science, mediapersons often looked forward to his visits here as listening to him or talking as Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) would yield a big story.

Under the stewardship of Rao, many projects in rocket technology, launch vehicles, communication satellites (INSAT series) and remote sensing for natural resources mapping got accelerated, which as a confident and dynamic leader he shared with the public during lectures and media meets, which I could cover.

As Secretary, DoS and Chairman, ISRO during 1984-94, he consolidated on the strong foundation laid by his predecessors — Vikram Sarabhai, HN Sethna & Satish Dhawan, experimented new frontiers and built a highly energetic and motivated organisation.

Udupi Ramachandra Rao or UR Rao as he was popularly known was part of the Rao triumvirate from Bengaluru —CNR Rao (Bharat Ratna) and late VKRV Rao, noted economist being the other two. From 1972, Rao and teams in the ISRO fabricated and launched the first satellite “Aryabhata” in 1975 and another 20 over the years, including Rohini, Bhaskara, APPLE, INSAT series and IRS series. He was instrumental in giving a big boost to the launch vehicles (SLV, ASLV), especially the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which has emerged as the mainstay in ISRO’s march in the lucrative market.

The affable, strongly optimistic Rao, who had a pronounced American accent, was able to derive the best advantage from stalwarts like APJ Abdul Kalam (missile man), PS Goel (satellite technology) BL Deekshatulu (remote sensing), PR Pisharoty (meteorologist) etc, who teamed up well to cement a solid, long-term space programme for the nation.

A strong believer in global alliances and application of satellite technology, Rao pushed for collaborations with France, Russia and the creation of the Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of ISRO, which is now getting traction to aggressively pitch for international business opportunities.

However, Rao had to contend with technology denial regimes, which made him to focus on the indigenous development of the GSLV, where the pressures were fully in play as the US denied technology and the Russians, with whom India had good cooperation managed to provide a few knocked down versions of the Cryogenic rocket engines.

From the time he returned to India from the US in the late 1960s to join the Indian space programme to his last breath, Rao has been involved with the department’s missions in one capacity or the other. He was the first Indian space scientist to be inducted into the “Satellite Hall of Fame” in Washington. He was awarded the Padma Vibushan in 2017, nearly four decades after the Padma Bhushan in 1976.

Born in Adamaru area of Udupi district of Karnataka, Rao went to a Government College in Anantapur for graduation and the US for higher research. He was Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology in Thiruvananthapuram when he passed away due to age related problems. The country has lost an articulate ambassador of science.

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