Former ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan died on Friday in Bengaluru, said civil servants.
“He left for Hemelly Abode in his home in Bengaluru this morning. His body will be kept at Raman Research Institute (RRI) for paying last respect on April 27”, according to a PTI report that quotes civil servants.
Kasturirangan, who was 84 at the time of his death, is survived by his wife and two sons, according to the report that quotes family sources. The sources also said that the former Isro chef suffered from age in recent months.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced the death of Kasturirangan.
Here are 10 things to know about former ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan
1. Kasturirangan served as chairman of the traping committee for New National Edudation Policy (NEP) and as Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission.
2. Kasturirangan served nine years to 2003 in Isro.
3. He was previously the director of Isro Satellite Center, where he supervised the activities related to the development of new generation of space vessels, Indian national satellite (Insat-2) and Indian satellites for teleceties (IRS-1A & 1B), as well as scientific satellites.
4. Under his leadership, Isro successfully launched many satellites, including the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and more recently, the first successful flight tests of the all -important Geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV).
5. He also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha (2003–09) and as a member of the then planning commission of India. Kasturirangan was also director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru from April 2004 to 2009.
6. The former ISRO chef was born on October 24, 1940 in Erakulam in Kerala to CM Krishnaswamy Iyer and Visalakshi.
7. From Tamil Nadu, his family was located in Chalakudy in the Thrissur district. His mother came from the Palakkad Iyer family.
8. Kasturirangan achieved his Bachelor of Science with distinction and Master of Science degrees in physics at Bombay University. He obtained his doctoral training in experimental high energy astronomy in 1971 and worked at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.
9. As an astrophysicist include, interests are research into X -rays with a lot of energy and gamma rays, as well as optical astronomy. He also made important contributions to studies of cosmic X-rays, heavenly gamma-ray and the effect of cosmic X-rays in the lower atmosphere.
10. For his exemplary work, Kasturirangan Padma Vibhushan received in the year 2000. The Space Scientist has also won several other prizes through his life for his contributions.
