Udupi Ramachandra Rao, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, acclaimed space scientist acknowledged as the father of Indian satellite technology died yesterday at his Bengaluru home. He was 85.

He occupied key positions in multiple international fora besides being chairman of ISRO from 1984 to 1994. He was responsible for the launch of India’s first satellite Aryabhata.

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1976 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2017 for his contribution to Indian space technology.

In 2013, he became the first Indian space scientist to be inducted into the ‘Satellite Hall of Fame’ in Washington DC on and the ‘IAF Hall of Fame’ in Mexico’s Guadalajara.

The Prime Minister tweeted his condolences.

He was looking forward to India’s maiden launch to planet Venus in the coming years.