An astronomer joins the space programme
Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan was born on 24 October 1940 in Ernakulam. He trained in astronomy and high-energy astrophysics, then joined the Indian space programme.
He grew through technical roles in satellite astronomy and remote-sensing missions, satellites that look down at the Earth to study land, water and crops.
ISRO’s operational years
He was ISRO Chairman from 1994 to 2003. In this period PSLV reached operational maturity, and the INSAT and IRS satellite constellations and space applications expanded.
His tenure strengthened ISRO as a reliable operational ecosystem for launches and satellites.
Science in public policy
Later he served as a member of the Rajya Sabha and of the Planning Commission, and as chairman of the committee that drafted the National Education Policy. This took his impact well beyond space science. He died on 25 April 2025.
Going from research scientist to the head of a large public institution, and then to education policy, was an unusual multi-stage career. Scientific thinking helps in policy design, but policy outcomes are collective and contested.
Sources
- ISRO: K. Kasturirangan
- PIB obituary, 2025
- National Institute of Advanced Studies
- isro.gov.in/kasthurirangan.html
- pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2124254&lang=2®=48
- nias.res.in/