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U. R. Rao
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Science & innovation · Karnataka

From India's first satellite to satellites that serve

U. R. Rao led the building of Aryabhata, India's first satellite. His larger achievement was turning experiments into satellites that the country could use every day.

U. R. Raoयू. आर. राव
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U. R. Rao. Photo: archival image; credit being confirmed

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Born
10 March 1932, Karnataka
Died
2017
Field
Space science, satellite engineering
Institutions
ISRO; Physical Research Laboratory
Honours
Padma Vibhushan 2017; Padma Bhushan 1976
1984becomes ISRO Chairman
10years as Chairman, 1984–1994

From cosmic rays to satellites

Udupi Ramachandra Rao was born on 10 March 1932 in Karnataka. After research in cosmic rays and space science he joined Vikram Sarabhai’s work.

He gained experience with satellite experiments in the USA, then came back to India to work towards satellites designed and built at home.

Aryabhata and after

His leadership was central to the Aryabhata satellite project, and to the development of Bhaskara, APPLE and the operational communication and remote-sensing satellites that followed.

The central challenge was moving from dependence on foreign-built and foreign-launched systems to indigenous design capability. Rao turned learning into satellites that worked as a reliable service.

Satellites in daily life

As ISRO Chairman from 1984 to 1994 he pushed both launch vehicles and applications forward. Later he stayed active at PRL and in space policy.

Satellite infrastructure changed India’s capacity in television, telecom, weather, resource mapping and disaster support. A prototype becomes transformative only when it is scaled into a reliable national service.

Sources