Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 10: The 89th birthday of renowned scientist Udupi Ramachandra Rao was celebrated by Google with a doodle on Wednesday, March 10. 

Rao, who was an Indian space scientist and chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), supervised the 1975 launch of India’s first satellite — 'Aryabhata.' For his achievement in space science, Rao was known as 'India’s Satellite Man'.

The doodle by Google features a sketch of Prof Rao with a background of the Earth and shooting stars. “Your stellar technological advancements continue to be felt across the galaxy,” Google wrote in its description.

Prof Rao was born in a remote village of Karnataka on March 10, 1932. He began his career as a cosmic-ray physicist with his doctoral advisor being Dr Vikram Sarabhai, who has been regarded as the father of India’s space program. After completing his doctorate, Prof Rao came to the US, where he worked as a professor and conducted experiments on NASA’s Pioneer and Explorer space probes.

On his return to India in 1966, Prof Rao initiated an extensive high-energy astronomy program at the Physical Research Laboratory, the country's premier institution for space sciences, before spearheading India's satellite program in 1972. From 1984 to 1994, Prof Rao continued to propel India's space program as chairman of India’s Space Research Organization.

Rao made history when he became the first Indian inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame in 2013, the same year that PSLV launched India’s first interplanetary mission—'Mangalyaan'—a satellite that orbits Mars today. He was also the recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. Prof Rao passed away in the year 2017 in Bengaluru.