Georg Simon Ohm (16 March 1789 – 6 July 1854)

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Georg Simon Ohm was born in South-Eastern Germany on March 16, 1787. His father was a locksmith who also manufactured and repaired guns. Since generations his family was involved in the business and his father inherited the same from his grandfather. He would move all over the cities of Germany and France to earn his living. At 40, he came to settle down in the village of Allergen. For 40 years his father conducted this business. After his arrival here, he got married and had two sons – Georg and Martin. His life took a turn thereafter. 

Georg’s father was now attracted towards education, particularly in mathematics and science. He became involved in mechanical instruments and conducted research on his own. He began concentrating on mathematics and science. He even went on to cultivate similar interest for the subjects in his two sons. The two sons grew up to graduate in mathematics from the University of Erlangen and later, became professors.

At a young age of 18, Ohm was appointment professor at Swiss Canton in the city of Gottstadt in Berne. The supervisor who scrutinized his application for the job was a bit disappointed when he saw the young man. Ohm’s appearance was short and skinny, like a boy. But in a short while, his disappointment vanished. He was thoroughly happy and impressed to find the new professor’s depth of knowledge and his simple method of teaching. Ohm also became involved in further studies and research. Ultimately, after 6 years of extensive research and study, in 1811, Ohm earned the doctorate degree. At that time he felt like joining the armed movement against Napoleon and his army. He left his job and prepared himself to join the army. It was his father who stopped him from taking such a step, making him realize and convince him in a practical way. Thus, he continued to work as a professor.

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In 1817, at the age of 30, he got an invitation to join the Jesuit College at cologne as professor and a departmental head. He happily accepted this position.  Here, he taught as well as conducted research. As a result, in 1827, he published a detailed essay based on the research that he had had conducted for years. It was one of the foremost researches ever conducted in the field of electricity at that time. Sadly, it did not gain acceptance nor recognition for more than twenty years. Ohm was very disappointed by this. He had proposed certain basic equations and fundamental principles in the field of electricity that made solving mathematical problems in the field easy. Known as Ohm’s law, it is the basic law that every student of physics has to learn and understand. The equation I=V/R was given by him, where I = current, V=electromotive force or voltage and R = resistance.

In electricity, Ohm’s law experimentally determines the relationship that the amount of steady current through a large number of materials is directly proportional to the potential difference or voltage across the materials. Alternatively, Ohm’s law can be stated as the current I in the conductor equals the potential difference V across the conductor divided by the resistance of the conductor, or simply I=V/R, and that the potential difference across a conductor equals the product of the current in the conductor and its residence, V=IR. In a circuit where the potential difference or voltage is constant, the current may be decreased by adding more resistance or increased by removing some resistance.

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In 1827, he published a book titled Die galvanische kette mathematics bearbeitet (The Galvanic Circuit Investigated Mathematically). He was under the impression that it would earn him fame and promotion. But it was not to be. The scientific world ignored this remarkable work. Those who read his work found nothing new in it. Ohm was very sentimental. At 40, he resigned from the college. Being Jobless, he had to face difficulties. It became so difficult for him that even to buy things of daily use, he had to think twice.
After 6 years, he again began working. No one appreciated his work in Germany, but Britain did return him his dues. The Royal Society of London Presented and honoured him with the Copley Medal in 1854.
In the same year (1854), Ohm died at Munich at the age of 67. In 1881, at the Electrical Engineers International Congress, a resolution was passed that the unit of electrical resistance be called ohm, in his honour. He was finally honoured posthumously for the discovery he made during his lifetime.

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Sir Humphry Davy (17 December 1778 – 29 May 1829)

Humphry Davy was born in Penzance village, Cornwall, South Western part of England, On December 17, 1778. His poor father would make a living out of wood crafting, carpentry and farming. Humphry had his scholling in Penzance and later, he had higher education from nearby Truro. Soon after completion of his primary education, Davy went to a local chemist Thomas Beddoes of Bristol, who trained him in making drugs. Beddoes had a personal library where Davy would spend his free time, reading books. He cultivated great interest in reading here and specifically, in chemistry. He also experimented on the basis of the books that he had read then.

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Due to his thirst for reading and experimenting, he came in touch with Watt Jr. the son of Sir James Watt, the famous engineer and inventor. He introduced Davy to the president of The Royal Society, Dr. Gilbert. Impressed by Davy’s interest and dedication, Gilbert wrote a recommendation letter to the founder of the then newly established Medical Pneumatic Institution. This institute conducted research studies on the use of different gases in the field of medicine. He was immediately employed here. Not only that, Davy who had not even seen the University, was lucky enough to get work of his choice. It was here that he worked hard and sincerely to become the youngest head of the institution at the age of 20.

Davy, who had come up in life the hard way, was rather, whimsical in nature. His work led him to propose that electrical forces hold the elements of a chemical compound together. Davy must have known of Lavoisier’s suggestion that the alkali earths were oxides of unknown metals. At first, he tried to separate the metals by electrolyzing aqueous solutions of the alkalis, but this yielded only hydrogen gas. The important discovery he made in the 1799 brought him fame from all over the world. He prepared Nitrous Oxide gas in his laboratory. This gas is used even today as anesthesia for making patients unconscious and then, conduct surgical operations. The operation thus performed is painless and easy to conduct for the surgeon, as the patient remains unconscious throughout the period of operation. However, in his lifetime, this discovery was not put to use. It was in the year 1844 that an American doctor used this medicine to extract his decayed tooth painlessly. The medicine numbed the area near the tooth so that the operation could be conducted without pain and with least effort. 

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There occurred another interesting incident when he discovered this medicine. He drank it instead of smelling it and he had and intoxicating feeling. He would laugh without any rhyme or reason and that is the reason why it was called laughing gas. Davy attained fame due to this very interesting discovery. 

Around this period, Count Rumford, an American scientist, arrived in London and set up the Royal Institute. He extended invitation to Davy for giving lectures in chemistry. Davy had no prior experience as a teacher, yet the manner in which he delivered them and the popularity that he achieved, earned him the title of professor. The reason for this was that he was very good public speaker too. His easy style of communicating and the manner of simplifying and putting forth the most complex issues of chemistry impressed the Agricultural Board of the Royal Institute. They requested him to take up the issues relating to agriculture and provide necessary guidance to them.

He then spent the next ten years of his life conducting deep research and studies in the field of agriculture. He provided necessary inputs and guidance in this field and developed fertilizers so as to help increase the agricultural production.

Apart from this, he developed electro-chemical process in chemistry. Commonly known as caustic soda, a wet piece of sodium hydroxide is placed in a platinum cup. One end of the wire was connected to one terminal of the battery and the other end to a piece of caustic soda. Another wire connected the second terminal of the battery and the platinum cup. This way an electrolytic chemical reaction took place that produced sodium vapor. Today our roads and streets are lit with the help of sodium vapor lamps. He also isolated potassium with the help of electro-chemical process. Similarly, he also obtained sodium, magnesium, strontium, calcium, chlorine and barium through this process in the year 1808. Following the same process, Charles Martin in the year 1886, isolated aluminum from aluminum oxide. As part of further development, Davy also invented the arc lamp.

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Impressed by the invention of the electrochemical process of separating sodium and potassium and its technique, Napoleon, the French Emperor presented him with the French Institute Medallion. Even as England and France were at war, Davy, at the age of 30, was presented the medallion at the special ceremony. The arc lamp invented lit brighter than any other lamp that was available then. Such arc lamps have applications in the film industry and making of military searchlights.

In 1812, a young man named Michael Faraday came to meet him. He would attend every lecture or speech of his and jot down in his beautiful handwriting. He showed those notes to Davy. Learning of his careful and enthusiastic approach, Davy was impressed and he immediately employed him as an assistant. Another reason was that he had suffered from the blinding effects of the experiments he was conducting in the mines and needed a helping hand. This young man, Faraday later went on to become one of the world’s most famous scientists.

The same year, the king of England bestowed him the Knighthood. Three days later, he married Jane Apreece, a rich widow. After a few days, the couple accompanied by Faraday as Davy’s  assistant and valet went on a world tour to deliver lectures and learn more about the scientific activity that was taking place all over. In Paris, Davy was honoured and made the member of the French Institute. In Italy, he conducted research  on the torpedo fish that produced electricity. At Genoa, the famous Italian city, he burnt diamond with the help of arc lamp to prove that it is made of carbon. Visiting Sweden and Germany, he turned back to England and reached there in the year 1815.

Sir Humphry Davy Invention

Now he was faced with a very complex problem. He found its solution by conducting a new and useful research for the world. In the coal mines of Newcastle, frequent accidents used to take place. Due to this, many miners lost their lives and production of coal was also affected. The reason for this was the lamp with flame that was taken inside the mine. The gases present in the mine would catch fire and blasts would occur simultaneously. After in-depth study, Davy invented the now famous lamp known as the Davy safety lamp. To ensure that the heat does not ignite fire, a round wire gauge mesh was placed around the flame. The gases never came in contact with the flame. This way, the number of accidents was reduced and many a lives were saved. This was the period when the battery torch was not yet invented. Davy was so humble that he refused to patent the invention and for the safety of the miner he allowed his invention to be freely used without any charge. The mine owners were happy for this gesture of his and presented him a silver dinner set. As per Davy’s will, the silver set was melted on his death and sold. Davy medal was instituted in his memory out of the money collected and is presented every year to scientists of Europe and America who make significant contribution in the field of chemistry.

In 1818, Davy was made the Baronet and honoured. In 1820, he was made the president of the Royal Society. He was not well mannered nor polite due to which did he become very unpopular. He earned more enemies than friends and had to finally give up the position.

Finally, in 1829,  Sir Humphry Davy died at the age of 48, in Geneva. The inventor of the safety lamp and are lamp and discoverer of six important chemical elements was honoured as the “Father of Electrochemical process”

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Sir Isaac Newton (25th Dec. 1642 - 20th Mar. 1727)

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World famous scientist Sir Isaac Newton was born at woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, England, on Christmas day in 1642. As a baby Isaac was a weakling. Having lost his father before his birth, he was born prematurely. The widowed mother lost all hope of the baby’s survival. She never had the faintest idea that this baby would one day not only become one of the world’s greatest scientists, but also live long. When Newton was two years old, his mother remarried. He was then shifted to his grandmother’s house and she raised him. This young boy engaged himself in some activity or other. He made a sundial in stone. Besides, he made a watch that ran on water and a model of a windmill. The sun clock he made is on display at London’s Royal Museum. He also loved reading. 

When he was 14 years old, his mother was once again widowed. He started living with his mother now, and started helping her at their farm. Soon his mother realized that as he approached adulthood his interest in farming was waning. At home he would daydream. He began making models using wood. Finally, his mother agreed to send him to college. Isaac was thrilled. At the age of 18, Newton joined the famous Trinity College at Cambridge. After four years, in 1665, he gained his graduate degree in mathematics from Cambridge University. In college his mathematics professor Isaac Barrow recognized his potential and started encouraging and guiding him and later, became his friend.

Scientist Sir Isaac Newton

At that time the plague epidemic raged all over England. About ten per cent of the country’s population died of this epidemic. Schools and colleges were closed. Cambridge University too was closed. Newton was back at his mother’s farm. Till the time the university reopened after a year and half, Newton stayed with his mother. The time he spent here was the most productive period of his life. His greatest discoveries were made during this time (1665-66) and it is also known as miraculous year in Newton’s life. He laid the foundations of the calculus and the laws of motion. He also examined the elements of circular motion and applied his analysis to the moon and other planets. Seeing a falling apple gave him insight into the law of universal gravitation. The seeds of his famous work on optics were also laid then. He later elaborated these and was recognized as the world’s greatest discoveries of those times.

In 1667, when the university reopened, Newton was appointed lecturer. He made quick progress and in 1669, at the age of 26, he was appointed Lucasian Professor of mathematics in place of Professor Isaac Barrow.

Sir Isaac Newton

For long Newton was involved in the research on light. Newton’s first work at Trinity College was in optics. While at home, Newton had conducted many experiments in his darkened room with a glass prism. When he let in a chink of daylight between the curtains or a ray of white light passed through a prism, it was refracted.

But different parts of the beam were refracted in different amounts, and the beam emerged split into several colors. The colors were same and in the same order, as they appeared in the rainbow : red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Newton came to the conclusion that white light could be split up by the prism into a spectrum of merging colors in the sequence red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, and these colors, when recombined by the prism, formed white light. Newton called it a crucial experiment or Experiment crucis. 

He also designed and constructed the reflecting telescope. This telescope had an image that was not formed by a lens, but by a concave mirror. James Gregory had proposed such use of a concave mirror earlier, but Newton was the first to make such an instrument. The telescope aroused more interest than his lectures because here was something that could be seen, handled and tested. The Royal Society, heard tales of this ‘Wondrous Instrument’ and in 1671, it caused such a sensation that it was demonstrated to King Charles II, on special request. The small telescope, which performed so well, aroused great interest at the Royal Society. As a result, Newton was elected a member of the Royal society, to which he donated the reflecting telescope. The diameter of the mirror was one inch. One such reflecting telescope is installed at the California Institute of Technology’s Mount Palomar Observatory. Its diameter is about 515 cm.

Sir Isaac Newton's Laws

His initial research papers focused on light. Many scholars opposed these vehemently, though some praised it. He had replied to Christiaan Huygens and Robert Hookes criticisms. By then a popular figure, Newton, who was psychologically incapable of accepting criticism, was so upset that he swore not to publish any scientific work. Now he quietly worked to develop the theoretical principles underlying his experimental works. Besides, he represented the university in parliament.

In 1664, the famous astronomer Edmund Halley visited Newton. He had come to discuss Kepler’s laws on the motion o planets. Halley came to realize that Newton had laid down the basic laws of gravitation through his calculations and conclusions. At Halley’s urging, Newton reproduced the proofs and expanded then into a paper. Halley at once recognized the importance of what Newton had done and also, realized that he was dealing with a genius. He persuaded Newton to publish his works and results. He volunteered to bear all the production cost. 

Sir Newton's discoveries on force

Halley encouraged Newton to write a full treatise of his new physics and its application to astronomy. In 1687, Newton finally published the ‘Philosohiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica’ ( The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy) in three volumes in Latin, which caused a sensation. Newton became internationally famous. Though his concept of force was not generally accepted, leading scientists of those days soon recognized him as a worthy successor of Galileo and Descartes. The Principia is still considered as the greatest scientific book ever written. His third law of motion-that action and reaction are equal and opposite has done wonders. Present day rockets and jet planes run on this principle.

In 1698, Newton was appointed as the Master of the Mint after working as the Warden of the Mint from 1696. He held this prestigious position and made many important changes to prevent manufacturing of counterfeit coins. In 1701, he resigned his fellowship and professorship at the Trinity College.

In 1703, Newton was elected president of the Royal Society and remained on this post till his death. In 1705, Queen Anne honored him by conferring on him the title of ‘Sir’. He died on March 20, 1727 at the ripe old age of 85. This great scientist was laid to rest with other eminent personalities at Westminster Abbey.

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Scientist Galileo Galilei (15th Feb. 1564 – 6th Jan. 1642)

Scientist Galileo Galilei 

Eminent astronomer, physicist and seeker of truth – Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564, in Pisa, a town in Italy. His father Vincenjio Galilei was a wool trader. Galileo belonged to a upper-class family, but their economic condition was not so good. He was the eldest in the family of seven brothers and sisters. His father studied music and was a music lover. Galileo inherited this trait. Since childhood he played the flute very well and was a good hand at drawing. He was an intelligent child, who designed various toys. This artistic streak made him popular among the local folk.

At that time Pisa town was part of the Tusque state of Italy. It was the center of art and knowledge. Galileo’s childhood was spent in this artistic and literary environment. It is a coincidence that this great scientist and England’s famous playwright William Shakespeare were born in the same year. At a young age Galileo was sent to the local school to study under the priests. Actually, he learnt more from his father than at his school. In 1581, at the age of 17, his father admitted him to the Pisa University to study medicine. But his mind was set on mathematics. Meanwhile, coming I contact with a scholar mathematician, his interest in mathematics became strong. Gradually, he gained mastery over mathematics.

 

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Meanwhile, at the age of 20, he made his first discovery public. At a cathedral in Pisa, he noticed a hanging chandelier from the ceiling swinging in the breeze. He counted his pulse and measured the time taken for one oscillation of the chandelier and found that there was regularity in its swinging. At the end of his study he concluded that if we swing pendulums of equal lengths at any speed, the time for one swing remains the same. He also demonstrated practical application of his discovery of the pendulum. Patients undergoing treatment can measure their pulse with a pendulum. He also visualized a watch based on a pendulum, but did not make it. Sometime later Christiaan Huygens made a clock using a pendulum. It showed the minutes and seconds. Thus, his pendulum also served a practical purpose.

Super Scientist Galileo Galilei

In 1585, he went through a financial crisis. This resulted in his abandoning midway his university education through he continued with his self-study. Now, his interest centered on mathematics. On the basis of his study, he openly criticized Aristotle’s laws of motion. His deep study and fascination for mathematics came to the knowledge of the local grand Duke. The Duke appointed Galileo as professor of mathematics at Pisa University. This did not bode well with the other professors of that time who were jealous of the appointment of this 25 year old new professor. Moreover, Galileo did not even possess any university degree. He also raised questions on laws propounded by Aristotle. His courage to question the truth of Aristotle’s laws irked the senior professors who openly displayed it.

On seeing a falling stone and leaf, Aristotle had concluded that the lighter object would take more time to cover equal distance to the ground. Galileo reasoned that it was due to the obstruction caused by air. Galileo took two stones of different weights and dropped them from Pisa’s famous Leaning Tower. Though both stones varied in weight they fell on the ground at the same time. Galileo proved his point and questioned Aristotle’s hypothesis. Though the senior professors were present during the experiment, they were reluctant to accept it.

It was a time when stop clocks were not available to measure time accurately. Depending on the height of Pisa Tower any object dropped from the top would take not more than three seconds to touch the ground. He found out another way to measure time. He took a 22 feet (approx 670 cm) long piece of teak-wood. After making a deep groove in the wood, it was bent slightly. This groove was chiseled to make it smooth and friction less, so that the ball placed in the groove could slowly move towards the ground. To measure time he had placed a pierced bucket with water falling drop by drop. He collected this water and measured time. To find out the effect of gravity, he performed this experiment and made some unique observations. He derived his laws of motion through this experiment. He derived his laws of motion through this experiment. He proved the mathematical laws experimentally. He further derived new laws of motion from it which were different from the established laws.

The orthodox professors and religious leaders of that time did not accept his findings. They believed in the saying ‘old is gold’. The few who opposed him made efforts to relieve him from Pisa University. Finally, fed up with the opposition, he resigned from his post in 1592. For someone who spoke the truth and unfaltering in his belief, Galileo had to face a few tough days. With discontinuation of his income he faced a crisis. In fact, his intellectual prowess made many people jealous of him and some also developed an inferiority complex. Others were not ready for change. Thus, Galileo got isolated. After resigning from Pisa, he went to his father’s house in Florence. But, his father met an untimely death. As the eldest son, the responsibility of seven brothers and sisters fell on him. Despite this he did not waver from his charted path.

Meanwhile, he got a job as professor of mathematics at Padua University in Venice. His salary was also good. Gradually his difficulties ceased. He stayed there for 18 years and it was a period of relative prosperity and fame. Students from all over the world came to study under him. The future German emperor too, came to study here. He got interested in Astronomy after coming to Venice. In 1609, he got the news that some scientist in Holland had designed a telescope with the help of a lens. He, too, designed his own telescope. The news of his telescope spread far and wide and people started flocking to see it. On the request of the royalty of Venice, he agreed to publicly display his telescope.

Scientist Galileo Galilei

For observing the sky with the telescope, he placed his telescope on the dome of the town’s tallest church, and observed the ships plying in the far sea. According to Galileo, and object which was 50 miles away could be seen just five miles away through the telescope. The Prince of Venice requested Galileo for a telescope for the army and the navy. He accepted the offer and gained respect and an increase in salary. Galileo observed the sky with his telescope. He first observed the moon and became the first human being to do so. Viewing the moon he came to realize that the moon was not flat, but comprised of mountains and valleys. He also measured the height of mountains on the moon. He noted that the planets, like the stars, did not shine on their own but depended on some outside source for light.

He also took note of the fact that stars are sources of light, which emit light rays in all directions. He observed the sky and noted that the galaxy is clusters of stars. He focused his telescope on Jupiter and first found out its four moons. He also found out that the earth reflects the Sun’s light. Someone who views the earth from the moon will find same characteristics as in the moon when one views it from the earth. He opposed the traditional belief and announced that earth was not the centre of the universe. Scholars and religious leaders were furious and rained insults at him. Thus, all his new findings gave him fame as well as foes.

Galileo had a well-paid, permanent job in Venice. But his heart cried out for Florence, his native land. He began efforts to return to Florence. He thought of penning down his discoveries. His efforts bore fruit when the Grand Duke appointed him as the duke’s mathematical advisor. In 1611, he left Venice for Florence. His troubles began soon after he set foot here. Florence was the seat of the Pope’s decree. Galileo backed his discoveries with Copernicus theories. When Galileo visited the Pope in Rome, he was deceived into accepting the allegiance. He was banned from spreading Copernicus beliefs opposing religious order among the people.

Galileo Galilei's Invention

Galileo was now a broken man. In 1618 he had proposed a theory on the flood and abb-tides of the seas. This theory was also on the lines of Copernicus beliefs. It was believed then that the ebb and flood tide occurred according to the wishes of the Almighty. Galileo asked for permission to publish a book based on science. After a long delay he was granted permission. When the book was published and reached the Pope, he declared it against religion and accused Galileo of getting it printed through illegal means. The Book was banned. He was charged with fraud. Suddenly, everything seemed to go against him.

In 1634, at the age of 70 Galileo appeared in court. He was forced to accept the verdict and he stated, “I am now giving up my untruthful theories.” He also said that, “from now onward I will not spread these false theories.”. The experts in the court declared “ Earth is the center of the universe not the Sun.” He was sentenced to solitary confinement for the rest of his life. He spent the last eight years of his life in seclusion. Prior Permission was needed for any person to meet him. Galileo was worn down both mentally and physically. Finally, on January 6, 1642, this great thinker and researcher breathed his last, ending his suffering.    

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Prof U R Rao (The great Scientist of India)

Prof. U. R. Rao 

Considered one of the leading space scientists in the world, Dr U R Rao was born on March 10, 1932, in Admar village in the south Canara district in Karnataka state. His father’s name was Lakshminarayan Rao and his mother’s name was Krishnavalli. His full name was Udupi Ramchandra Rao. He completed his school and college education from a place near his village. Very fond of reading during his school and college days, he was among the top rankers in class. He passed BSc with a first class in physics and joined the Varanasi (Benaras) Hindu University for his post-graduation. In 1953, he passed MSc with a first class. The same year he went to Ahmadabad and joined the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) for his PhD and began research on cosmic rays under the guidance of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. In 1960, he received PhD. for further studies, in 1961, he received post-doctoral fellowship from the Massachusetts institute of Technology, Boston. There he carried our further research on cosmic rays and solar winds. After two years of research here, he worked as assistant professor at South West Center for advance Studies in Texas University, from 1963 to 1966.

In 1966, he returned to India and once again joined PRL as Fellow and continued with his research. Thus, began his second phase of life. Here he began research studies on X-rays and gamma rays in cosmic rays. These experiments involved use of balloons, rockets and satellites, which were used as payloads. Meanwhile, Rao served as associate professor at PRL from 1968 to 1970. In 1970, he was promoted as professor. He worked on that post for two years. In 1972, he was appointed as director of ISRO Satellite Centre in Bangalore. He successfully discharged his duties here till 1984. During his researches at PRL, he and his colleagues had made important contributions towards understanding the interplanetary medium. His research on solar winds has increased our understanding of the subject. The data interpretation of American Satellites pioneer I and Pioneer II became easy due to his researches. His understanding of the solar winds by unraveling the American satellite Mariner II observations provided a new insight to the world of science. He was the first to establish the relationship between geomagnetic storms and solar winds with the help of observations made on earth. For his highly accurate analysis of the Pioneer 6,7,8, and 9 observations, he was awarded the ‘Group achievement Award, by National Aeronautics & Space administration (NASA) in 1973.

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His third phase of life started with his appointment as director of ISRO Satellite Centre at Bangalore. After his return from America, his second phase was spent at PRL, where he received guidance from Dr. Vikram Sarabhai whenever he needed. At Banglore, he started development of the new institute and after Dr. Sarabhai’s death, fully concentrated on enriching the space department and reinforcing the satellite technology. This resulted in the design and construction on India’s Aryabhatt satellite in 1975, under his guidance. This was successfully launched from the Russian Cosmodrome and was well in control thereafter. Then the design, development and successful orbit of Bhaskar I and II were carried out in 1979 and 1981. Under Rao’s leadership, the first experimental geostationary satellite ‘Apple’ was put into orbit in June, 1981. This gave a boost to the development of this new technology in the country. Thereafter, the Indian Remote Sending (IRS) satellites and the INSAT satellites for broadcasting and meteorological purposes were designed, developed and successfully sent into orbit. The success achieved in putting them in appropriate orbit has increased the faith in Indian scientists and technicians. All this happened under Prof. Rao’s able leadership.

On October 2, 1984 Prof Rao was appointed chairman of ISRO and secretary of Space Commissions, Government of India. He was entrusted the entire responsibility of the country’s space programme. Taking forward the programme by guiding the scientists and engineers, he performed his duties successfully till 1994. Under his leadership the country’s space programs took a giant leap and made various achievements. During his tenure, satellite launch vehicles were produced. This achievement was recognized. Launch vehicles like the ASLV, which could launch a satellite with a payload of 150 Kg in lower orbit and PSLV, which could launch a satellite with a payload of 1000 kg in polar orbit were prepared. Besides, special cryogenic engines are acquired to produce launch vehicles for GSLV geostationary satellites. These satellite launch vehicles can put satellites with 2.5 ton payload into orbit.

Prof Rao has played an important role in enhancing India’s name in the world of space science. This is the reason why many institutes, universities and many governments in the country and abroad have lauded his efforts. In 1975, the Russian Science Academy, while praising his efforts for the successful launch of Aryabhatt satellite, honoured him with the Russian ‘Medal of Honour’. The same year, he was awarded the ‘Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Research Award’ instituted by the Hariom Ashrama, for his contribution to space physics. He was also awarded the ‘Dr. Shantiswaroop Bhatnagar Prize’ for his contribution to engineering science. The Karnataka government conferred on him the ‘State Award’. In 1980, the Indian Engineering Institute gave him the ‘National Design Award’ and for his contribution to electronics science and technology, he was given the year’s ‘Vasvik Research Award’. For his services to the country, the President conferred on him the Padma Bhushan.

Prof Udupi Ramchandra Rao 

In 1987, the National Science Academy awarded Rao the ‘P C Mahalanobis Medal’. In 1991, the Russian Space Flight Federation honoured him with the ‘Yuri Gagarin Medal’. In 1992, for his cooperation in the journey of space, the international community ( of which he is the Vice-president) awarded him the ‘Allen D’mil Memorial Award’. In 1995, India’s scientific community honoured him with the ‘Aryabhatt Award’. The same year he was given the Bhasin Award. Kolkata (Calcutta) University along with Mysore University, as well as other universities in the country and abroad have conferred on him honorary doctorate degrees. The National Science Academy, Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications, National Engineering Academy, and Indian Astronautical Society have honoured him with a Fellowship and gave him honorary membership. He is the president of the Indian Rocket Society. He was honoured as visiting scientist to Texas University and other universities. In 1996, he was presented the ‘Dr. Vikram Sarabhai International Award’.

Today, he works as chairman of the PRL governing body. Besides, he is associated with various institutions. He has to his credit, more than 150 research papers. He has also written a book on the Aryabhatt project with his colleague Dr. Kasturirangan. It describes in detail about the project, its results and also analysis of its images. In 1996, he had detailed discussions with the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, on how science and technology would be useful in increasing foodgrain production, economic development and health of the country, and wrote a book in this connection. Thus, he has served the country in various fields. We pray to the almighty to grant him good health and long life, so that he continues to guide the country in space research.

Great Scientist Udupi Ramchandra Rao Photo

Prof U R Rao Images

Prof U R Rao Photo

Prof U R Rao Pictures

Prof-U-R-Rao Photo

Prof. U.R. Rao Images

Scientist Prof U R Rao Photos