He steered the Indian space programme for over nine years, serving as Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chairman of the Space Commission, and Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Space, before leaving office in August 2003.
Published Apr 25, 2025 | 4:09 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 25, 2025 | 4:09 PM
Dr Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan
Synopsis: Dr Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, former Chairman of ISRO and a central architect of India’s space ambitions, passed away in Bengaluru at the age of 84 due to age-related health complications. Under his leadership, he oversaw pivotal missions such as the PSLV and GSLV launches, and played a key role in developing India’s Earth observation and communication satellite systems.
India’s space community lost one of its most eminent figures on Friday, 25 April, as Dr Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan passed away in Bengaluru at the age of 84 due to age-related health issues.
He steered the Indian space programme for over nine years, serving as Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chairman of the Space Commission, and Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Space, before leaving office in August 2003.
His mortal remains will be kept for public respects at the Raman Research Institute on 27 April, between 10 am and 12 pm.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a post on X:
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr K Kasturirangan, a towering figure in India’s scientific and educational journey. His visionary leadership and selfless contribution to the nation will always be remembered.”
“Dr K Kasturirangan, a visionary scientist and a guiding force behind India’s space programme. His contributions to the Indian Space Research Organisation and Indian science will be remembered for generations. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones,” Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh wrote in a post on X.
Dr Kasturirangan completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours and a Master of Science in Physics from Bombay University. He earned his doctorate in experimental high energy astronomy in 1971 while working at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad.
He was Project Director for India’s first two experimental Earth observation satellites, Bhaskara I and II.
As Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre, he oversaw the development of the INSAT-2 series and the Indian Remote Sensing satellites IRS-1A and IRS-1B.
During his tenure, ISRO marked key advances, including the successful launch and operation of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), and the first successful flight test of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
His leadership helped position India among the world’s leading spacefaring nations – one of only six at the time – through the successful launch of crucial satellites.
He also supervised the design and development of what were considered the world’s best civilian remote sensing satellites, IRS-1C and IRS-1D, along with the second and third generations of INSAT, and the ocean observation satellites IRS-P3 and IRS-P4.
Dr Kasturirangan was a member of several prestigious scientific academies in India and abroad. He served as President of the Indian Academy of Sciences in Bengaluru, and as General President of the Indian Science Congress.
He was a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, the Indian National Science Academy, the Indian Meteorological Society, among several others.
He also chaired key international committees, including the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, the Panel for Space Research in Developing Countries of the Committee on Space Research/International Council for Science (COSPAR/ICSU), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) meeting that resulted in the 1999 Delhi Declaration.
In 2012, he chaired a committee tasked with studying the ecologically sensitive zone in the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot spanning six Indian states: Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat.
The report recommended that 37 percent of the Western Ghats be designated an ecologically sensitive area, balancing ecological preservation with sustainable and inclusive development. It proposed a ban on mining, quarrying, sand mining, and red-category industries within this zone.
He was also a member of the International Astronomical Union and the International Academy of Astronautics.
In 2020, Dr Kasturirangan was appointed Chairman of the drafting committee for the National Education Policy (NEP).
Dr Kasturirangan received numerous awards for his contributions to science, including:
He was also a recipient of the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan – among India’s highest civilian honours.
A prolific scientist, Dr Kasturirangan published over 200 papers in national and international journals across the fields of astronomy, space science, and space applications. He also edited six books.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
