Question:- Eminent scientist, Professor Udupi Ramachandra Rao, who passed away recently, was formerly the head of …
(a) ISRO
(b) DRDO
(c) AIIMS
(d) None of the above.
Ans: (a)
Related Fact :
- On July 24, 2017, former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman and space scientist U.R. Rao passed away.
- Professor Rao, served as ISRO Chairman for 10 years during 1984-1994, after taking the reins from Satish Sharma.
- Rao has been involved in all ISRO missions till date, including the first Indian satellite ‘Aryabhata’. Under his leadership, India successfully launched the ASLV rocket and the operational PSLV launch vehicle, capable of launching 2.0 ton class of satellite into polar orbit.
- He contributed in the development of rocket technology which led to the successful launch of Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
- Rao is said to have initiated the Geostationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and development of cryogenic engine in 1991, which has in the recent past put Indian space on par with global superpowers.
- Rao had also served as the chairman of the governing council of the physical research laboratory at Ahmedabad, chancellor of Indian Institute of Science and Technology at Thiruvananthapuram, as faculty at MIT and assistant professor at University of Texas.
- He was the first Indian space scientist to be inducted into the prestigious ‘Satellite Hall of Fame’ in Washington DC and the ‘IAF Hall of Fame’ in Mexico’s Guadalajara.
- Professor UR Rao was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1976 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2017 for his contribution to Indian space technology.
Reference:
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/prof-ur-rao-passes-away/1/1009364.html