politician member of the Rajya Sabha
Doctor Kasturirangan graduated in Science with Honours from Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga situated in central Mumbai, and obtained his Master of Science degree in Physics, from University of Mumbai. He received his Doctorate Degree in Experimental High Energy Astronomy in 1971, working at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. He has published more than 244 papers in the areas of astronomy, space science and applications.
He was a Member in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha, 2003–2009) of the Indian Parliament. He was also the Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, from April 2004 to 2009. Doctor Kasturirangan was responsible for directing the Indian Space programme for over 9 years, as Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation and the Space Commission and as Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Space, before laying down office on 27 August 2003.
He was earlier the Director of Indian Space Research Organisation Satellite Centre, overseeing the development of new generation spacecraft, the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-2) and the Indian Remote SensingSatellites (Internal Revenue Service-1A and 1B) as well as scientific satellites.
He was also the Project Director for India"s first two experimental earth observation satellites, Bhaskara-I and World War II Under his leadership, the programme witnessed several major milestones including the successful launching and operationalisation of the India"s prestigious launch vehicles, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. Studies on the advanced version of the GSLV, GSLVMk-III, was also completed including defining its full configuration.
Further, he also oversaw the development and launching of some of the world"s best civilian remote sensing satellites, Internal Revenue Service-1C and Internal Revenue Service-1D, realization of new generation INSAT communication satellites, besides ocean observation satellites Internal Revenue Service-P3/P4. He also led the initiative for India to enter the planetary exploration era by an extensive studies leading to the definition of Chandrayaan-I. These efforts have put India as a pre-eminent space-faring nation among the handful of six countries that have major space programmes.
As an Astrophysicist, Doctor Kasturirangan"s interest include research in high energy X-ray and gamma ray astronomy as well as optical astronomy.
Defining India’s most ambitious space based High Energy Astronomy observatory and initiating a related activities was also an important milestone under his leadership. He has made extensive and significant contributions to studies of Cosmic x-ray and gamma ray sources and effect of cosmic x-rays in the lower atmosphere.
He is now a member of the Planning Commission of Government of India, chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and chairman of Karnataka Knowledge Commission.
