M. R. Kurup | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Died | India |
| Other names | Madhavan Pillai Ramakrishna Kurup |
| Occupation | Rocket scientist |
| Known for | Solidrocket propulsion technology |
| Parent | C. N. Madhavan Pillai |
| Awards | Padma Shri |
Madhavan Pillai Ramakrishna Kurup was an Indian rocket scientist and the founder of the first solid rocket propellant plant in India at theVikram Sarabhai Space Centre.[1] He is known to have contributed to the successful launching of theAugmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) as the director of the VSSC centre inThiruvananthapuram.[2] TheGovernment of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award ofPadma Shri in 1990.[3]
Kurup was born inChengannur, in the south Indian state ofKerala to C. N. Madhavan Pillai, a lawyer.[4] Kurup started his career by joining theVikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) of theIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He worked in VSSC in various capacities such as General Manager, Deputy Director and Chief Executive of Chemicals, Materials and Propulsion unit[1] where he had the opportunity to work alongsideA. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the space scientist who would later become thePresident of India.[5] During his tenure there, he established the first solid rocket propulsion plant in the country[1] for propellants, propulsion and pyrotechnics.[6] He was a member of the team selected byVikram Sarabhai to design the first Indiansatellite launch vehicle, which was composed of Kurup,Vasant Gowarikar,A. E. Muthunayagam andUdupi Ramachandra Rao among others.[6] He was the Design Project Leader of the second stage[7] and was closely associated with the project till the launch of the vehicle on 10 August 1979.[8] Later, he moved toSatish Dhawan Space Centre inSriharikota inAndhra Pradesh,[8] established a similar plant in the 1970s and superannuated from service as the director of the SHAR centre.[1]
The Government of India included him in the 1990Republic Day honours list for the civilian award of thePadma Shri.[3] The Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing has instituted an annual lecture, the M. R. Kurup Memorial Lecture, in his honour.[1]
