A Renowned Indian space scientist and former ISRO chairman U.R. Rao passed away in Bengaluru in the early hours of Monday, said a space agency official. “Rao passed away at his residence around 3 a.m., after prolonged illness and due to age-related health issues,” the official of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS. He was around 85 years old. From 1984 to 1994 Rao, was the chairman of the state-run ISRO for a decade. Now the eminent scientist Rao leaves behind his widow, a son and a daughter.
“Rao was in a private hospital till recently for treatment as he had a heart ailment and was recovering at home. Our (ISRO) doctors were attending to him,” said the official. ISRO Chairman A.S. Krishna Kumar, senior space scientists and many officials of the space agency rushed to Rao’s house to mourn his death and console his bereaved family. “Saddened by the demise of renowned scientist, Professor U.R. Rao. His remarkable contribution to India’s space programme will never be forgotten,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
UR Rao was popularly known as Udupi Ramachandra Rao who was the space scientist and the former chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation. He was also the chairman of the governing council of the Nehru Planetarium at Bengaluru and the physical research laboratory at Ahmedabad. He was the chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology at Thiruvananthapuram.
In 1976 UR Rao was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. And he was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2017. On 19th March 2013, he was inducted into the satellite hall of Fame, Washington at a ceremony organised by the Society of Satellite Professionals International and with this achievement he became the first Indian to be inducted.
Saddened by demise of renowned scientist, Professor UR Rao. His remarkable contribution to India's space programme will never be forgotten.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2017
Sad to hear of passing away of eminent scientist Prof UR Rao. He shall be remembered for his rich contribution to India's Space Programme. pic.twitter.com/wYMQV83RCh
— Harsh Sanghavi (@sanghaviharsh) July 24, 2017
