Ex-ISRO chief U R Rao Passes away at 85

Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman and space scientist UR Rao passed away on Monday after suffering from heart ailments.

Padma Vibhushan award winner Professor Rao died in the wee hours at his residence in Bengaluru. He was 85.

Reportedly, Professor Rao breathed his last at about 2.30am.

Professor Rao, served as ISRO Chairman for 10 years during 1984-1994, after taking the reins from Satish Sharma.

Among other positions that professor Rao has held, he is remembered for his tenure at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also made to the prestigious International Aeronautical Federation (IAF) Hall of Fame last year during the closing ceremony of IAF Congress 2016 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

From Aryabhatta to the Mars Orbiter Mission, Professor Rao has continued to work with the space agency on several of its projects.

Professor Rao was born in Adampur village in Udupi and has continuously been associated with India's space programme working with people like late MGK Menon, Satish Dhawan and Vikram Sarabhai.

Despite that he wrote several books on subjects related to space research, Professor Rao published over 350 scientific and technical papers covering wide range of topics including cosmic rays, interplanetary physics, high energy astronomy, space applications and satellite and rocket technology.