Udupi Ramachandra Rao, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and celebrated space scientist, breathed his last in the wee hours on Monday after prolonged illness, at his residence in Bengaluru. He was 85. Be it Indian or the international space scenario, Rao needs no introduction. He is the brain behind India's first satellite, Aryabhata; has spearheaded several ISRO projects including the Mars Orbiter Mission and took it to the heights where it proudly stands today. Rao's absence will definitely leave a huge void in the Indian space scenario.

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The Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awardee, Rao served as the chairman of ISRO for 10 years between 1984 and 1994. In his career span, Rao has won several accolades and international and national awards for his contribution. Rao was born in Adamaru in Karnataka and started his career as a cosmic ray scientist and worked under the guidance of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.  

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He was the first one to identify the continuous nature of solar wind and the effect it had on geomagnetism, using Mariner 2 observations. In fact, in 2013, he became the first Indian to be inducted into the ‘Satellite Hall Of Fame' in Washington. Under the leadership of U.R. Rao, India saw acceleration in the development of the rocket technology, leading to the successful launch of ASLV rocket in the year 1992. In fact, Rao was also behind the successful launch of INSAT satellites and the development of the geostationary launch vehicle GSLV. In 1995 he helped launch an 850 kg satellite into the polar orbit. 

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He was serving as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Physical research Laboratory, Ahmedabad and the chancellor of the Indian Institute of Science and Technology (IIST) at Thiruvananthapuram. He has previously worked as a faculty member at MIT and even published over 350 technical and scientific papers on interplanetary physics, satellite and rocket technology and cosmic rays among others. Rao's never ending list of achievements and awards speak for his work and his remarkable contribution that took the Indian space scenario to such great heights. He is survived by his wife and daughter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too mourned the demise of Rao.

Saddened by demise of renowned scientist, Professor UR Rao. His remarkable contribution to India's space programme will never be forgotten.