Rao was awarded thePadma Bhushan by theGovernment of India in 1976, and thePadma Vibhushan in 2017.[3] He was inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame, Washington, on 19 March 2013 at a ceremony organised by theSociety of Satellite Professionals International. With this he became the first Indian to be inducted.[4][5] He was also to be inducted in International Astronautics Federation (IAF) on 15 May 2016. He was again the first Indian to achieve such a feat.[6]
Rao started his career as a cosmic ray scientist and worked under Vikram Sarabhai, which he continued at MIT. In association with theJet Propulsion Laboratory group, he was the first to establish the continuous nature of the solar wind and its effect on geomagnetism using Mariner 2 observations. Rao's experiments on a number of Pioneer and Explorer spacecraft led to a complete understanding of the solar cosmic-ray phenomena and the electromagnetic state of the interplanetary space. Convinced of the imperative need to use space technology for rapid development, Rao undertook the responsibility for the establishment of satellite technology in India in 1972.[11] Under his guidance, beginning with the first Indian satellite "Aryabhata" in 1975, over 18 satellites includingBhaskara,APPLE,Rohini,INSAT-1 and INSAT-2 series of multipurpose satellites and theIRS-1A andIRS-1Bremote sensing satellites were designed, fabricated and launched for providing communication, remote sensing, and meteorological services.
After taking charge as Chairman, Space Commission and Secretary, Department of Space in 1985, Rao accelerated the development of rocket technology[12] resulting in the successful launch of theAugmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) rocket in 1992. He was also responsible for the development of the operational thePolar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which successfully launched an 850 kg. satellite into a polar orbit in 1995. Rao initiated the development of the geostationary launch vehicle, theGeosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and the development of cryogenic technology in 1991. He was responsible for successful launch of INSAT satellites during his stint at ISRO. The launch of INSAT satellites gave a thrust to communications in India, during the 1980s and 1990s. The successful launch of INSAT provided telecommunication links to remote corners of India. During these decades fixed telephone (called as landline) expanded throughout country due to availability of satellite links at different places in the ground. People could talk easily from anywhere by use of STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialing) instead of waiting for hours to get the connection. This development played a key role in future for India to develop as an Information Technology hub. He was the first Chairman ofAntrix Corporation. He received thePadma Bhushan in 1976. He was the first Indian space scientist to be allowed into the prestigious Satellite Hall of Fame in Washington DC, USA in recent past on 19 March 2013.
Rao was an elected Fellow of many academies such as Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers, International Academy of Astronautics and Third World Academy of Sciences. Rao was conferred Fellowship of the World Academy of Arts & Sciences. He was the General President of theIndian Science Congress Association for 1995-96. Rao was the Vice President of International Astronautical Federation (IAF) during 1984 to 1992 and continued to be the Chairman of the Committee for Liaison with Developing Countries (CLIODN) since 1986. Rao was elected as the Chairman of United Nations - Committee On Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS) in June 1997 and also Chairman of UNISPACE-III Conference. He was elected as the Chairman of the 30th International Antarctic Treaty Consultative Committee Meeting at Delhi in April 2007.
He was the Co-Chairman of theNational Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa.[13] He was the first chairman ofPrasar Bharati.[14] Rao was the Fourth President of the Governing Body of the Centre for Space Physics in 2007. While the President, he changed its name to Indian Centre for Space Physics in recognition of its national importance.[15]
He was the recipient of various national and international awards, including:[16][17]
National Awards
The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Vibhushan Award to Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao, at a Civil Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 30 March 2017
1997Outstanding Book Award of the International Academy of Astronautics for the Book Space Technology for Sustainable Development
2000Eduard Dolezal Award of ISPRS
2004 Space News magazine named him as one of the Top 10 International personalities who have made a substantial difference in civil, commerce and military space in the world since 1989[30]
2005 Theodore Von Karman Award which is the highest Award of the International Academy of Astronautics.
People's President and distinguished scientist Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam had an effective association with Prof. U. R. Rao. While Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam was President, he presented the Life Time Achievement Award constituted by ISRO and Astronautical Society of India (ASI) to Prof. Rao for his outstanding contribution to the organization.
U. R. Rao, K. Kasturirangan, K. R. Sridhara Murthi. and Surendra Pal (Editors), "Perspectives in Communications", World Scientific (1987).ISBN978-9971-978-76-1
U. R. Rao, "Space and Agenda 21 - Caring for Planet Earth", Prism Books Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore (1995).
U. R. Rao, "Space Technology for Sustainable Development", Tata McGraw-Hill Pub., New Delhi (1996)
