T. K. Alex | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | India |
| Alma mater | Catholicate College Pathanamthitta, Kerala University, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), T.K.M. College of Engineering,Kollam |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2007) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Electrical andAerospace Engineering |
| Institutions | Indian Space Research Organisation |
Thekkethil Kochandy Alex is an Indian space scientist. He was the director of theISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) ofIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) (2008–2012) and Member, Space Commission.[1] He specialized in electro-optic systems and satellite technology. Starting with the first Indian satelliteAryabhata, he has been responsible for the sensor systems in all the Indian satellites. Under his leadership the Laboratory for Electro Optics Systems (LEOS) was established in 1993 and from the inception he was its director till 2008. He was conferred "Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professorship" in 2011.[2]
Alex from Kerala studied at the SRVLP school, Azhoor, Pathanamthitta, and his high school studies were at the Catholicate High School. This was followed by the pre-university course at theCatholicate College Pathanamthitta, Kerala. He studied at theT.K.M. College of Engineering,Kollam, from 1964 to 1969. He received hisbachelor's degree inelectrical engineering from theKerala University (gold medallist), master's degree fromIIT Madras and doctorate fromIISc Bangalore inAerospace Engineering.
Alex has contributed to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by establishing the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems in Bangalore. Alex was the project director of theremote sensing experiment on board the Indo-soviet crewed mission in which the first Indian astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, squadron leader, flew aboard Soyuz T-11, launched on 3 April 1984.[citation needed] He contributed to India to the first Indian Moon mission,Chandrayaan-1 in 2008. He provided guidance to the inter-planetary mission, Mars Orbiter mission,Mangalyaan.[citation needed]
Alex was awarded thePadma Shri in 2007,[3] and the Distinguished Achievement Award of ISRO in 1976 for his contributions for the first Indian satellite. Other awards received include the IMDA award for the development ofinfrared sensors and the Hari Om Ashram Vikram Sarbhai award (1987). He received the Aryabhata Award (2015) of the Astronautical Society of India. He is a fellow of theIndian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), National Academy of Science, India (NASI) and the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, India (IETE) and a life member of ASI and Instrument Society of India. He is a fellow of the Optical Society of India and he was its President (2010–11).[1]